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FROM BOOK OF MAXIMS' 


THE WISE MAN KNOWS HE KNOWS NOTHING 
BUT THE FOOL THINKS HE KNOWS IT ALL 










































DASHi 




Illness of the Lion was only a sham. 

(From Story i( The Fox and Sick Lion”£ 


















TfiG 

ftiBLCS OF j^eSOP 

/ lew 


upon 

Da fonrame-.ann.CRoxam 


/ 



ILLUSTRATED BT 


JOSEPH w EUGENE DASH 


WORLD-WIDE EDITION OF A 



SlUST RIGHT BOOK?. 


ALBERT WHITMAN & CO 

PUBLISHERS, CHICAGO,-U. S. A^ 











AESOP’S FABLES 

Copyright, 1925, by- 

Albert Whitman & Company, Chicago, U. S. A. 


Other World-Wide 
Editions 

Heidi 

Hans Andersen’s Fairy Tales 
Best Tales for Children 
Favorite Bible Stories 
East o’ the Sun and West o’ 
the Moon 

Stories from an Indian Cave 
The Wonderful Tree 


Artistic—Large Type 
And Reenforced 
Bindings 



JflN3Q’261 


WORLD-WIDE “JUST RIGHT” BOOK 
PUBLISHED IN THE U. S. A. 


J 

©C1A883415 



"Vv-0 V 





















SPECIAL NOTE 

This new picture edition of Aesop’s Fables, with the text 
matter based upon the version of Croxall and Le Fontaine, has 
been compiled with judicious care, selecting and rearranging 
each fable with the thought of holding the child mind with 
interest by appealing and instructive language. 

Combined with this simple style of relation, the book con¬ 
tains over seventy colored illustrations by Joseph E. Dash, a 
student and lover of animals. Mr. Dash possesses a technique 
very original in the depiction of animal actions. He has made 
each picture incorporate the text of the fable very realistically. 



In Appreciation: This book is dedicated to Alice M. Dempsey 
who gave the greater thought to create this picture edition. 




THE CONTENTS OF THIS BOOK 


Page 

The Hare and the Tortoise. 17 

The Lion and the Mouse. 19 

The Goose with the Golden Eggs. 21 

The Two Pots. . 22 

The Fox and the Crow.. 24 

Jupiter and the Ass. 27 

The Hawk and the Nightingale. 28 

The Traveler and His Dog. 29 

The Cat and the Fox. 31 

The Dove and the Ant. 32 

The Fox and the Mask. 33 

The Wood and the Clown. 34 

The Travelers and the Bear. 36 

The Lion and the Four Oxen. 38 

The Fox and the Goat. 40 

The Bald Man and the Fly. 43 

The Crow and the Pitcher. 44 

The Brother and Sister. 47 

The Donkey and Lap Dog. 48 

The Fisherman and Troubled Water. 51 

The Eagle and Arrow. 52 

The Ant and the Grasshopper. 54 

The Vain Jackdaw. 57 

The Wolf, the Fox and Ape. 59 

The Horse and the Stag. 60 


9 




























Tke Contents of this Book—Cont’d 


Page 

The Lark and Her Young Ones. 62 

The Crow and Mercury. 66 

The Silkworm and Spider. 67 

The Cock and the Fox. 68 

The Sick Stag. 71 

The Eagle and the Beetle. 72 

The Ass, the Dog and the Wolf. 74 

The Thrush and the Swallow. 77 

The Wind and the Sun. 78 

The Spaniel and the Mastiff. 80 

The Dog in the Manger. 83 

The Thirsty Tiger. 83 

The Fox and the Countryman. 86 

The Spendthrift and Swallow. 89 

The Hunter, the Fox, and the Tiger. 90 

The Hen and the Fox. 93 

The Angler and the Little Fish. 94 

The Fox and the Grapes. 96 

The Man and the Lion. 97 

The Sheep and the Dog. 98 

The Wolf in Disguise. 99 

The Hares and the Frogs. 100 

The Countryman and the Snake. 103 

The Wolf and the Kid. 104 

The Fox and the Wolf. 106 

The Fox and the Lion. 109 

The Thief and the Dog. Ill 

The Frogs Desiring a King. 112 

The Ass and the Lion Hunting. 115 

The Fowler and the Birds. 116 

The Greedy Man. 117 


10 


































The Contents of this Book—Cont’d 


Page 

The Fox and the Cock. 119 

The Dog Invited to Supper. 121 

The Bear and the Fowls. 124 

The Peacock and Juno. 128 

The Fox in the Well. 130 

The Mocking Bird. 131 

The Ass Laden with Salt and With Sponges. 132 

The Stag in the Ox Stall. 134 

The Mule Laden with Corn and the Mule Laden with 

Gold. 138 

The Fox and the Sick Lion. 139 

The Monkey and the Dolphin. 141 

The Wild and Tame Geese. 144 

The Frog Who Wished to Be as Big as an Ox. 146 

The Dog and the Crocodile. 148 

The Viper and the File. 150 

The Lion in Love. 151 

The Fox Without a Tail. 152 

The Thief and the Innkeeper. 154 

The Dog and the Shadow. 156 

The Knight and His Charger. 158 

The Buffoon and the Countryman. 161 

Hercules and Dallas . 163 

The One-Eyed Doe. 164 

The Stag at the Pool. 166 

The Lion, the Fox and the Ass. 168 

The Wolf in Sheep's Clothing. 170 

The Swallow and Other Birds. 172 

The Wolf and* the Lamb. 174 

The Maid and the Pail of Milk. 177 

The Fox and the Ass. 180 

The Nurse and the Wolf. 182 


11 


































The Contents of this Book—Concl’d 


Page 


The Birds, the Beasts, and the Bat. 185 

The Goat and the Lion. 186 

The Ass Carrying an Idol. 188 

The Flies and the Honey Pot. 190 

The Wolf and the Ass. 192 

The Fox and the Ape. 193 

The Mule. 194 

The Horse and the Ass. 197 

The Oak and the Reeds. 198 

The Fox and the Stork. 200 

The Two Rats. 203 

The Owl and the Nightingale. 205 

The Discontented Ass. 208 

The Wolf and the Mastiff. 209 

The Cobbler Turned Doctor. 213 

The Owl and the Grasshopper. 215 

The Swallow and Crow. 219 

The Town Mouse and Country Mouse. 220 

The Lion, the Fox, and the Wolf. 224 

The King’s Son and the Painted Lion. 227 

The Mice in Council. 230 

The Hare Afraid of His Ears. 232 

The Mastiff and the Goose. 235 

The Sorceress. 237 

The Lion, the Ass, and the Fox. 240 

The Fly and Draught-Mule. 243 

The Satyr and the Traveler. 244 

The Eagle and Crow. 247 

The Shepherd Boy and Wolf. 248 

The Wolf and the Crane. 250 

The Gnat and the Lion. 253 


12 



































THE LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS 


Page 


Illness of the Lion was Only a Sham (color). 4 

The Hare was Soon So Far Ahead (color). 16 

Found There an Egg, All Yellow and Glittering. 20 

Tried Its Best to Keep Away from the Brass One. 23 

“Good-day, Mistress Crow" (color). 25 

And Sat Securely Among the Branches. 30 

Tough Ash for a Handle to His Ax. 35 

“What was It That Master Bruin Whispered to You?" 

(color). 37 

The Lion Watched Them for Many Days. 39 

“Of Course, I Can Help You" (color). 40 

At Last He Saw the Water Mount Up to Him (color) . . 45 

At Last One Day (color). 49 

In Her Mortal Agony the Eagle Recognized. 53 

“Why Not Come and Chat with Me?".. 55 

Which He Had All to Himself. 61 

When the Old Lark Came Home (color). 63 

The Fox Made Off and Tried His Luck Elsewhere. ... 69 

Rolled Them Out of the Nest (color). 73 

The Ass Turned a Deaf Ear. 75 

Ran for Protection to the Nearest Shade. 79 

“He Should Be Glad to Bear Him Company". 81 

She Fell to the Ground. 84 

And Begged Him to Help Him to Some Hiding Place 

(color). 87 


13 
























The List of Illustrations—Cont’d 


Page 

Sprang in Haste to Seize It (color). 91 

“You’re Big Enough to Make One in a Frying Pan” 

(color). 95 

Jumped Into the Water. 101 

And, Looking Down, Saw a Wolf (color). 105 

The Wolf and the Fox (color). 107 

“When First You Came, I Fancied You Might Be a 

Thief”. 110 

He Sent Them a Stork (color). 113 

Was Caught in a Trap Which the Farmer Had Planted 

There. 118 

He Limped Away and Was Soon Surrounded. 122 

Fowls Standing to Drink by Pool (color). 125 

The Bear Burst Into a Fit of Laughter (color). 127 

Juno Angry at the Unreasonableness (color). 129 

He Was Delighted to Find That He Had Lost His Bundle 133 
Chased from His Lair by the Hounds. 135 

The Dolphin Asked the Monkey if He was an Athenian 

[(color). 143 

The Whole Flock Instantly Ascended Into the Air. ... 144 
Who Were Playing Near (color). 147 

A Crocodile Raising His Head Above the Surface of the 

Water . 149 

In Order to Get Away He was Forced to Leave It Behind 153 

And Saw His Own Shadow (color). 157 

To Make Him Into a Battle Steed Once More (color) . . 159 

So That She Might Keep Her Blind Eye Toward the 

Water (color). 165 

And was Struck with Admiration. 167 

When They Were Met by a Lion. 169 

So He Put It on Over His Own Pelt (color). 171 

Said the Lamb, “I am Only Six Months Old” (color) . . 175 
Her Mistress Gave Her a Pail of Milk. 178 


14 


























The List of Illustrations—Concl’d 


Page 


He Tried to Imitate as Well the Roaring of the Lion 

(color). 181 

Hunting Up and Down for His Supper. 183 

“He That Is Neither One Thing or the Other Has No 

Friends. 184 

“Many Thanks for Your Advice, Dear Lion” (color) . . 187 
And Carried Through the Principal Streets of the City. . 189 

Their Feet, However, Became So Smeared. 191 

“I Must Have Been Mistaken About My Father” (color) 195 

The Horse in Its Fine Trappings. 196 

“We Bent Our Heads to the Blast,” Said They. 199 

In a Very Long-Necked Jar (color). 201 

A Formal, Solemn Owl Had for Many Years Made His 

Home. 204 

In the Feathers That Muffle Up Their Unmeaning Face. . 207 
So, Bidding the Dog Good-night Very Humbly, He 

Praised His Good Looks. 211 

Came Hopping Up to the Owl (color). 217 

The Swallow and Crow Had a Contention. 218 

A Plain, Sensible Sort of Fellow (color). 221 

And His Majesty's Temper. 222 

And Standing Near the Lion (color). 229 

If the Cat Wore a Bell. 231 

Much Like Goat's Horns. 233 

Spirits from Pluto's Realms Appear (color). 239 

They Caught a Large, Fat Stag (color). 241 

Who at Once Commenced Blowing at It (color). 245 

And the Sheep Were Left at the Mercy of the Wolf 

(color). 249 

With Its Beak Loosened the Bone (color). 251 

The Wolf Grinned. 252 

Darted In and Bit the Lion on the Nose. 255 


15 



























The Hare was soon so far ahead. 


16 








































.THE FABLES OF AESOP 





The Hare and the Tortoise 


| "| HARE was one day making fun of a 

j iigij j Tortoise for being so slow upon his feet. 
j MU j “Wait a bit,” said the Tortoise; “I’ll run 
a race with you, and I’ll wager that I win.” 
“Oh, well,” replied the Hare, who was much 
amused at the idea, “let’s try and see”; and it 
17 










18 


FABLES OF AESOP 


was soon agreed that the Fox should set a course 
for them, and be the judge. When the time 
came, both started off together; but the Hare 
was soon so far ahead that he thought he might 
as well have a rest, so down he lay and fell fast 
asleep. Meanwhile the Tortoise kept plodding 
on, and in time reached the goal. At last the 
Hare woke up with a start, and dashed on at his 
fastest, but only to find that the Tortoise had 
already won the race. 

“Slow and steady wins the race.” 





FABLES OF AESOP 


19 


The Lion and the Mouse 



LION, tired with the chase, lay sleeping 
at full length under a shady tree. Some 
Mice, scrambling over him while he slept, 
awoke him. Laying his paw upon one 
of them, he was about to crush him, but the 
Mouse implored his mercy in such moving terms 
that he let him go. Some time after the Lion 
was caught in a net laid by some hunters, and, 
unable to free himself, made the forest resound 
with his roars. The Mouse whose life had been 
spared came, and with his little sharp teeth 
gnawed the ropes asunder and set the Lion free. 



“Little friends may prove great friends. 







20 



FABLES OF AESOP 


21 


The Goose With the Golden Eggs 

NE day a countryman going to the nest 
of his Goose found there an egg all 
yellow and glittering. When he took it 
up it was as heavy as lead and he was going 
to throw it away, because he thought a trick 
had been played upon him. But he took it 
home on second thought, and soon found to his 
delight that it was an egg of pure gold. Every 
morning the same thing occurred, and he soon 
became rich by selling his eggs. As he grew 
rich he grew greedy; and thinking to get at 
once all the gold the Goose could give, he killed 
it and opened it only to find — nothing. 


iRKHAR 

IOI 


“Greed often makes one poorer: 




22 


FABLES OF AESOP 


The Two Pots 



T WO Pots had been left on the bank of the 
river, one of brass, and one of earthenware. 
When the tide rose they both floated off down 
the stream. Now, the earthenware pot tried its 
best to keep away from the brass one, which 
called out: “Fear nothing, friend; I will not 
strike you.” 

“But I may come in contact with you,” said 
the other, “if I come too close; and whether I 
hit you, or you hit me, I shall suffer for it.” 


“Be careful of the company you keep/* 







Tried its best to keep away from the brass one. 


23 






















24 


FABLES OF AESOP 


The Fox and the Crow 



XXI A FOX once saw a Crow fly off with 
a piece of cheese in its beak, and 
settle on a branch of a tree. “That’s 
XXXX X for me, as I am a Fox,” said Master 
Renard, and he walked up to the foot of the 
tree. “Good - day, Mistress Crow,” he cried. 
“How well you are looking to-day; how glossy 
your feathers; how bright your eye. I feel sure 
your voice must surpass that of other birds, just 
as your figure does; let me hear but one song 
from you that I may greet you as the Queen of 
Birds.” The Crow lifted up her head and began 
to caw her best, but the moment she opened her 
mouth the piece of cheese fell to the ground, only 











“ Good*day , Mistress Crow 

































26 


FABLES OF AESOP 


to be snapped up by Master Fox. “That will 
do,” said he. “That was all I wanted. In 
exchange for your cheese I will give you a piece 
of advice for the future: Do not trust flatterers.” 

“The flatterer doth rob by stealth, 

His victim, both of wit and wealth ” 






FABLES OF AESOP 


27 


Jupiter and the Ass 


CERTAIN Ass, that belonged to 

A ❖ 

^ A ^ a gardener, was weary of carrying 
^ heavy burdens, and prayed to 
QQQQQQ Jupiter to give him a new master. 
Jupiter granted his prayer, and gave him for a 
master a tile-maker, who made him carry heavier 
burdens than before. Again he came to Jupiter, 
and besought him to grant him a milder master, 
or at any rate a different one. The god, laughing 
at his folly, thereupon made him over to a tanner. 
The Ass was worked harder than ever, and soon 
upbraided himself for his stupidity. “Now,” 
said he, “I have a master who not only beats 
me living, but who will not spare my hide even 
when I am dead.” 


’‘Contentment is the first law of happiness / 




28 


FABLES OF AESOP 


The Hawk and the Nightingale 


NIGHTINGALE once fell into the 
clutches of a hungry Hawk who 
had been all day on the lookout 
for food. “Pray let me go,” said 
the Nightingale; “I am such a mite for a stomach 
like yours. I sing so nicely too. Do let me go, 
it will do you good to hear me.” “Much good 
it will do to an empty belly,” replied the Hawk; 
“and besides, a little bird that I have is more 
to me than a great one that has yet to be caught.” 



“A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.‘ 








FABLES OF AESOP 


29 


The Traveler and His Dog 


0 TRAVELER, about to set out on his 
journey, saw his Dog stand at the 
door stretching himself. He asked 
him sharply, “What do you stand gap¬ 
ping there for? Everything is ready but you; so 
come with me instantly.” The Dog, wagging his 
tail, replied: “Oh, master, I am quite ready! It 
is you for whom I am waiting.” 


"The loiterer often imputes delay to his more active friend.” 






And sat securely among the branches. 




FABLES OF AESOP 


31 


The Cat and the Fox 


mh™»kHE Cat and the Fox were once talking 

MM I MM 
MM 1 MM 

kkkhkk together in the middle of a forest. “Let 
things be ever so bad,” said Reynard, “I 
don’t care; I have a hundred shifts if one 
should fail.” “I,” said the Cat, “have but one; 
if that fails me I am undone.” Just then a 
pack of Hounds burst into view. The cat flew 
up a tree, and sat securely among the branches, 
and thence saw the Fox, after trying his hundred 
shifts in vain, overtaken by the Dogs and torn 
in pieces. Miss Puss, who had been looking on, 
said: 


“Better one safe way than a hundred on which you 
cannot depend ” 




32 


FABLES OF AESOP 


The Dove and the Ant 



|N Ant, going to the river to drink, 
. ? fell in, and was carried along in the 

j stream. A Dove pitied her condi¬ 
tion, and threw into the river a small 
bough, by means of which the Ant 
gained the shore. The Ant afterward, seeing a 
man with a fowling-piece aimed at the Dove, 
stung him in the foot sharply, and made him 
miss his aim, and so saved the Dove’s life. 



f One good turn deserves another." 




FABLES OF AESOP 


33 



said: 
Pity i 


The Fox and the Maslc 



1 FOX was one day rummaging in 
H the house of an actor, and came 
HI across a very beautiful Mask. Put- 
gg|[g§ ting his paw on the forehead, he 
“What a handsome face we have here! 
is it should want brains.” 


"Outside show is a poor substitute for inner worth: 




34 


FABLES OF AESOP 


The Wood and the Clown 


A CLOWN entered a Wood and looked about 
him as though he were in search of some¬ 
thing. The Trees, moved by curiosity, asked him 
what it was he wanted. He answered that all 
he wanted was a piece of good, tough ash for 
a handle to his ax. The Trees agreed that if 
that was all, he should have it. When, however, 
he had got it, and fitted it to his ax, he laid 
about him unsparingly, and the giants of the 
forest fell under his strokes. The Oak is said 
to have spoken thus to the Beech, in a low 
whisper: 


“To give well one must give wisely.‘ 





Tough ash, for a handle to his ax. 


35 



















36 


FABLES OF AESOP 


The Travelers and the Bear 


jfei them 


WO men were traveling through a 
wood, when a Bear rushed out upon 
One of the travelers happened 


to be in front, and he seized hold of the branch 
of a tree, and hid himself among the leaves. The 
other, seeing no help for it, threw himself flat 
down upon the ground, with his face in the dust. 
The Bear, coming up to him, put his muzzle close 
to his ear, and sniffed and sniffed. But at last 
with a growl he shook his head and slouched off, 
for bears will not touch dead meat. Then the 
man in the tree came down to his comrade, and, 
laughing, said: “What was it that Master Bruin 
whispered to you?” 

“He told me,” said the other, 


"Never trust a friend who deserts you in time of need.” 





























38 


FABLES OF AESOP 


The Lion and the Four Oxen 

F OUR Oxen were such great friends that they 
used always when feeding to keep together. 
A Lion watched them for many days with long¬ 
ing eyes, but never being able to find one apart 
from the rest, was afraid to attack them. When¬ 
ever he came near they turned their tails to one 
another so that whichever way he approached 
them he was met by the horns of one of them. 
He at length succeeded in awakening a jealousy 
among them, which ripened into a mutual aver¬ 
sion, and they strayed off at a considerable dis¬ 
tance from each other. The Lion then fell upon 
them singly, and killed them all. 


“United we stand, divided we fall/* 





The Lion watched them for many days. 


39 





40 


FABLES OF AESOP 


The Fox and the Goat 


FOX and a Goat once journeyed together. 
The Goat was a simple creature, seldom 
seeing beyond his own nose; while the 
Fox, like most of his kind, was a master 
of knavery. They were led by thirst to de¬ 
scend a deep well, and when they had both 
drunk freely, the Fox said, “Now, Master Goat, 
what shall we do? Drinking is all very well, but 
it won’t get us out from here. You had better 
rear up against the wall; then, by the aid of your 
horns, I can get out, and once out, of course I 
can help you.” “By my beard,” said the Goat, 
“that’s a good plan. I should never have thought 
of that. How I wish I had your brains, to be 
















>1 


*t**A 


'Of course, l can help you” 


41 








































42 


FABLES OF AESOP 


sure!” The Fox, having got out in the way de¬ 
scribed, began to rail at his companion. “Make 
the most of your patience, old fellow,” said he, 
“for you’ll need it all. If you had half as much 
brains as beard, you would never have gone 
down there. I am sorry that I can’t stay longer 
with you, but I have some business that must 
be seen to. So, good-by.” 


"Look before you leap . 




FABLES OF AESOP 


43 


The Bald Man and the Fly 



was once a Bald Man who sat down 
work on a hot summer’s day. A 
Fly came up and kept buzzing about his bald 
pate, and stinging him from time to time. The 
Man aimed a blow at his little enemy, but— 
whack!—his hand came on his head instead; 
again the Fly tormented him, but this time the 
Man was wiser and said: 



“You will only injure yourself if you take notice of 
despicable enemies.” 





44 


FABLES OF AESOP 


The Crow and the Pitcher 



CROW, half-dead with thirst, came 
upon a Pitcher which had once 
been full of water; but when the 
Crow put its beak into the mouth 
of the Pitcher he found that only very little 
water was left in it, and that he could not reach 
far enough down to get it. He tried, and he 
tried, but at last had to give up in despair. Then 
a thought came to him, and he took a pebble 
and dropped it into the Pitcher. Then he took 











At last he saw the water mount up near him. 




46 


FABLES OF AESOP 


another pebble and dropped it into the Pitcher. 
Then he took another pebble and dropped that 
into the Pitcher. Then he took another pebble 
and dropped that into the Pitcher. Then he 
took another pebble and dropped that into the 
Pitcher. Then he took another pebble and 
dropped that into the Pitcher. At last, he saw 
the water mount up near him; and after casting 
in a few more pebbles he was able to quench 
his thirst and save his life. 


*Little by little does the trick ” 




FABLES OF AESOP 


47 


The Brother and Sister 


II 


imiu 


n 

II 

1 

mini 


n 

II 


i \ 

i 

n 



1 A 


n 

II 


\d\ 


n 

II 


mini 


1! 



mini 


n 



imm 


n 

II 


mini 


n 


girl was as plain as a girl can well be. 
The latter, provoked beyond endurance by the 
way in which her brother looked in the glass and 
made remarks to her disadvantage, went to her 
father and complained of it. The father drew 
his children to him very tenderly, and said: 
“My dears, I wish you both to look in the glass 
every day. You, my son, that, seeing your face 
is handsome, you may take care not to spoil it 
by ill-temper and bad behavior; and you, my 
daughter, that you may be encouraged to make 
up for your want of beauty by the sweetness of 
your manners and the grace of your conversa¬ 
tion.” 


"Handsome is as handsome does ” 














48 


FABLES OF AESOP 


The Donkey and the Lap-Dog 


HERE was once a man who had a Donkey 
and a Lap-Dog. The Donkey was housed 
in the stable with plenty of oats and hay to eat 
and was as well off as a Donkey could be. The 
Lap-Dog was made a great pet of by his master, 
who fondled him and often let him lie in his lap; 
and if he went out to dinner, he would bring 
back a tid-bit or two to give him when he ran 
to meet him on his return. The Donkey had, it 
is true, a good deal of work to do, carting or 
grinding the corn, or carrying the burdens of the 
farm; and ere long he became very jealous, con¬ 
trasting his own life of labor with the ease and 
idleness of the little Dog. At last one day he 







At last one day. 




49 
































50 


FABLES OF AESOP 


broke his halter, and frisking into the house just 
as his master sat down to dinner, he pranced and 
capered about, mimicking the frolics of the little 
favorite, upsetting the table and smashing the 
crockery with his clumsy efforts. Not content 
with that, he even tried to jump on his master’s 
lap, as he had so often seen the Dog allowed to 
do. At that the servants, seeing the danger their 
master was in, belabored the silly Donkey with 
sticks and cudgels, and drove him back to his 
stable half dead with his beating. “Alas!” he 
cried, “all this I have brought on myself. Why 
could I not be satisfied with my natural and 
honorable position, without wishing to imitate 
the ridiculous antics of that useless little Lap- 
Dog?” 


“Be content with your lot/* 




FABLES OF AESOP 


51 


The Fisherman and Troubled Water 


^ CERTAIN Fisherman, having laid his 
III nets in a river, took a long pole and fell 
i||| a-beating the water, to frighten the fish 
llll into his nets. One of the people who 
lived thereabout came and said to him, with 
surprise, “Why, what are you doing there, splash¬ 
ing and dashing the water about at that rate? 
You muddle the stream, and completely spoil 
our drink.” “Well,” replied the Fisherman, “all 
I know is, I must either spoil your drink or have 
nothing to eat.” 


P 


‘It was a poor rule that does not work both ways ' 



















52 


FABLES OF AESOP 


The Eagle and the Arrow 


NT Archer once feathered an Arrow with 
a feather that had fallen from an eagle’s 
wing. It shortly afterward happened 
that with this Arrow he shot the very 
Eagle that had cast the feather. In her mortal 
agony the Eagle recognized her property, and 
exclaimed: “Bitter is it to die, but doubly bitter 
to find that I have helped to speed the means 
of death.” 



“We often give our enemies the means for our own destruction.'* 










I 



In her mortal agony the Eagle recognized. 



53 


54 


FABLES OF AESOP 


The Ant and the Grasshopper 


IS HTN a field one summer’s day a Grasshopper 

HI ll.i.7, 

was hopping about, chirping and singing 
to its heart’s content. An Ant passed by, 
bearing along with great toil an ear of corn he 
was taking to the nest. 

“Why not come and chat with me,” said the 
Grasshopper, “instead of toiling and moiling in 


that way?” 

“I am helping to lay up food for the winter,” 
said the Ant. “and recommend you to do the 
same.” 

“Why bother about winter?” said the Grass¬ 
hopper; “we have got plenty of food at present.” 
But the Ant went on its way and continued its 















“Why not come and chat with me?” 


55 
























56 


FABLES OF AESOP 


toil. When the winter came the Grasshopper 
had no food, and found itself dying of hunger, 
while it saw the Ants distributing every day corn 
and grain from the stores they had collected in 
the summer. Then the Grasshopper knew 


It is best to prepare for the days of necessity” 





FABLES OF AESOP 


57 


The Vain Jackdaw 



J UPITER announced that he intended to 
appoint a king over the Birds, and named 
a day on which they were to appear before his 
throne, when he would select the most beautiful 
of them all to be their ruler. Wishing to look 
their best on the occasion, they repaired to the 
banks of a stream, where they busied themselves 
in washing and preening their feathers. The 
Jackdaw was there along with the rest, and 
realized that, with his ugly plumage, he would 
have no chance of being chosen as he was; so 
he waited till they were all gone, and then picked 
up the most gaudy of the feathers they had 
dropped, and fastened them about his own body, 




58 


FABLES OF AESOP 


with the result that he looked gayer than any of 
them. When the appointed day came, the birds 
assembled before Jupiter’s throne; and, after 
passing them in review, he was about to make 
the Jackdaw king, when all the rest set upon the 
king-elect, stripped him of his borrowed plumes, 
and exposed him for the Jackdaw that he was. 


“Borrow not to fool othersf 




FABLES OF AESOP 


59 


The Wolf, the Fox and the Ape 



T HE Wolf charged the Fox, before the Ape 
as judge, with having stolen some meat 
which he had put by. The case was long and 
angrily contested, and the Ape, having heard all 
that was to be said on both sides, announced 
his decision as follows: “You, Master Wolf, in 
spite of your complaints, do not appear to me 
to have had anything to lose; but I am forced 
to admit that you, Master Fox, have certainly 
stolen what is laid to your charge.” 


"It is hard for a Rogue to establish his innocence at any time." 




60 


FABLES OF AESOP 


The Horse and the Stag 


HERE was once a Horse who used to 
graze in a meadow which he had all to 
himself. But one day a Stag came into 
the meadow, and said he had as good a 
right to feed there as the Horse, and moreover 
chose all the best places for himself. The Horse, 
wishing to be revenged upon his unwelcome 
visitor, went to a man and asked if he would 
help him to turn out the Stag. “Yes,” said the 
man, “I will by all means; but I can only do so 
if you will let me put a bridle in your mouth 
and mount on your back.” The Horse agreed 
to this, and the two together very soon turned 
the Stag out of the pasture; but when that was 
done, the Horse found to his dismay that in the 
man he had got a master for good. 



"Selfishness bvinqs its own pains/* 











Which he had all to himself. 










62 


FABLES OF AESOP 


The Lark and Her Young Ones 


LARK, who had Young Ones in a field of 



corn which was almost ripe, was afraid 
lest the reapers should come before her young 
brood were fledged. Every day, therefore, when 
she flew away to look for food, she charged them 
to take notice of what they heard in her absence, 
and to tell her of it when she returned. One 
day when she was gone they heard the master 
of the field say to his son that the corn seemed 
ripe enough to be cut, and tell him to go early 
tomorrow and desire their friends and neighbors 
to come and help to reap it. When the Old Lark 
came home, the Little Ones fell quivering and 
chirping around her, and told her what had hap- 





When the old Lark came home. 


63 






























































64 


FABLES OF AESOP 


pened, begging her to remove them as fast as 
she could. The mother bade them to be easy, 
“For,” said sKe, “if he depends upon his friends 
and his neighbors, I am sure the corn will not 
be reaped to-morrow.” Next day she went out 
again, and left the same orders as before. The 
owner came, and waited. The sun grew hot, but 
nothing was done, for not a soul came. “You 
see,” said he to his son, “these friends of ours 
are not to be depended upon, so run off at once 
to your uncles and cousins, and say I wish them 
to come betimes to-morrow morning and help 
us to reap.” This the Young Ones, in a great 
fright, reported also to their mother. “Do not 
be frightened, children,” said she; “kindred and 
relations are not always very forward in helping 
one another; but keep your ears open, and let 
me know what you hear to-morrow.” The owner 
came the next day, and, finding his relations as 
backward as his neighbors, said to his son, “Now, 
George, listen to me. Get a couple of good 




FABLES OF AESOP 


65 


sickles ready against to-morrow morning, for it 
seems we must reap the corn by ourselves.” The 
Young Ones told this to their mother. “Then, 
my dears,” said she, “it is time for us to go 
indeed, for when a man undertakes to do his 
business himself, it is not so likely that he will 
be disappointed.” She removed her Young Ones 
immediately, and the corn was reaped the next 
day by the old man and his son. 


“Self help is usually the best help/* 




66 


FABLES OF AESOP 


The Crow and Mercury 

<§)(§><§><§) <§>(!> CROW caught in a snare prayed 



to Apollo to release him, making 
a vow to offer some frankincense 


at his shrine. Being rescued from 
his danger, he forgot his promise. Shortly after¬ 
ward, on being again caught in a second snare, 
passing by Apollo he made the same promise to 
offer frankincense to Mercury, when he appeared, 
and said to him: “Oh, thou most base fellow; 
how can I believe thee, who hast disowned and 
wronged thy former patron?” 


"False promises bring their own punishment: 




FABLES OF AESOP 


67 


The Silkworm and the Spider 

SILKWORM was one day working at 



||A.p her shroud; the Spider, her neighbor, 
|| || weaving her web with the greatest swift- 

ness, looked down with insolent con¬ 


tempt on the slow, although beautiful, labors 
of the Silkworm. “What do you think of my 
web, my lady?” she cried; “see how large it is, 
and I began it only this morning, and here it is 
half finished, and is very fine and transparent. 
See and acknowledge that I work much quicker 
than you.” “Yes,” said the Silkworm, “but your 
labors, which at first are designed only as base 
traps to ensnare the harmless, are destroyed as 
soon as they are seen, and swept away as worse 
than useless dirt; while mine are preserved with 
the greatest care, and in time become ornaments 
for princes.” 


"Time well spent is not wasted.” 




68 


FABLES OF AESOP 


The Cock and the Fox 

A COCK, perched among the branches of a 
lofty tree, crowed aloud. The shrillness of 
his voice echoed through the wood, and the well- 
known note brought a Fox, who was prowling 
in quest of prey, to the spot. Reynard, seeing 
the Cock was at a great height, set his wits to 
work to find some way of bringing him down. 
He saluted the bird in his mildest voice, and 
said: “Have you not heard, cousin, of the 

proclamation of universal peace and harmony 
among all kinds of beasts and birds? We are 
no longer to prey upon and devour one another, 
but love and friendship are to be the order of the 
day. Do come down, and we will talk over this 
great news at our leisure.” The Cock, who knew 




The Fox made off and tried his luck elsewhere. 


69 









70 


FABLES OF AESOP 


that the Fox was only at his old tricks, pretended 
to be watching something in the distance, and 
the Fox asked him what it was he looked at so 
earnestly. “Why,” said the Cock, “I think I 
see a pack of Hounds yonder.” “Oh, then,” said 
the Fox, “your humble servant, I must be gone.” 
“Nay, cousin,” said the Cock, “pray do not go; 
I am just coming down. You are surely not 
afraid of Dogs in these peaceable times!” “No, 
no,” said the Fox; “but it is ten to one whether 
they have heard of the proclamation yet.” 


"Cunning often outwits itself ” 




FABLES OF AESOP 


71 


The Sick Stag 


k’”"" v « STAG, whose joints had become stiff with 
♦*} A 

age, was at great pains to get together 
iHi a large heap of fodder—enough, as he 
thought, to last him for the remainder 
of his days. He stretched himself out upon it, 
and, now dozing, now nibbling, made up his 
mind to wait quietly for the end. He had always 
been of a gay and lively turn, and had made in 
his time many friends. These now came in great 
numbers to see him and wish him farewell. While 
engaged in friendly talk over past adventures 
and old times, what more natural than that they 
should help themselves to a little of the food 
which seemed so plentifully stored around? The 
end of the matter was that the poor Stag died not 
so much of sickness or of old age as for sheer 
want of the food which his friends had eaten 
for him. 


“It is easy to judge your true friends by the amount of care 
they exercise for your welfare” 




72 


FABLES OF AESOP 


The Eagle and the Beetle 


T HE Eagle and the Beetle were at enmity 
together, and they destroyed one another’s 
nests. The Eagle gave the first provocation in 
seizing upon and in eating the young ones of 
the Beetle. The Beetle got by stealth at the 
Eagle’s eggs, and rolled them out of the nest, 
and followed the Eagle even into the presence 
of Jupiter. On the Eagle making his complaint, 
Jupiter ordered him to make his nest in his lap; 
and while Jupiter had the eggs in his lap, the 
Beetle came flying about him, and Jupiter, rising 
up unawares to drive him away from his head, 
threw down the eggs, and broke them. 


"The weak often revenge themselves on those who use them ill, 
even though they be the more powerful.’’ 





And rolled them out of the nest . 


73 





























74 


FABLES OF AESOP 


The Ass, the Dog and the Wolf 



IIPTH LADEN Ass was jogging along, 
I«k«|/Ask followed by his tired Master, at 
whose heels came a hungry Dog. 
llilill Their path lay across a meadow, 
and the man stretched himself out on the turf 
and went to sleep. The Ass fed on the pasture, 
and was in no hurry at all to move. The Dog 
alone, being gnawed by the pains of hunger, 
found the time pass heavily. “Pray, dear com¬ 
panion,” he said to the Ass, “stoop, that I may 
take my dinner from the pannier.” The Ass 






The Ass turned a deaf ear. 


75 













76 


FABLES OF AESOP 


turned a deaf ear, and went on cropping away 
the green and tender grass. The Dog persisted, 
and at last the Ass replied, “Wait, can’t you, 
till our Master wakes. He will give you your 
usual portion, without fail.” Just then a fam¬ 
ished Wolf appeared upon the scene, and sprang 
at the throat of the Ass. “Help, help, dear 
Towser!” cried the Ass; but the dog would not 
budge. “Wait till our Master wakes,” said he; 
“he will come to your help without fail.” The 
words were no sooner spoken than the Ass lay 
strangled upon the sod. 


“Not to help others has no rewards 




FABLES OF AESOP 


77 


The Thrush and the Swallow 

YOUNG Thrush, who lived in an 



became acquainted 
A frienship sprang 


up between them, and the Swallow, 
after skimming the orchard and the neighboring 
meadow, would every now and then come and 
visit the Thrush. The Thrush, hopping from 
branch to branch, would welcome him with his 
most cheerful note. “Oh, mother!” said he to 
his parent one day, “never had creature such a 
friend as I have in this same Swallow.” “Nor 
ever any mother,” replied the parent bird, “such 
a silly son as I have in this same Thrush. Long 
before the approach of winter your friend will 
have left you, and while you sit shivering on a 
leafless bough, he will be sporting under sunny 
skies hundreds of miles away.” 

“Do not take fair weather friendships seriously ” 





78 


FABLES OF AESOP 


The Wind and the Sun 

DISPUTE once arose between the North 
Wind and the Sun as to which was the 
stronger of the two. Seeing a traveler 
on his way, they agreed to try which 
could the sooner get his cloak off him. The 
North Wind began, and sent a furious blast, 
which, at the onset, nearly tore the cloak from 
its fastenings; but the traveler, seizing the gar¬ 
ment with a firm grip, held it around his body 
so tightly that Boreas spent his remaining force 
in vain. The Sun, dispelling the clouds that had 
gathered, then darted his most sultry beams on 
the traveler’s head. Growing faint with the heat, 
the man flung off his cloak and ran for protection 
to the nearest shade. 



"Kindness effects more than severity . 1 






Ran for protection to the nearest shade. 


79 





80 


FABLES OF AESOP 


The Spaniel and the Mastiff 


GOOD-NATURED Spaniel overtook a 
! | A 11 surly Mastiff as he was traveling upon 
the highroad. Tray, although an entire 
stranger to Tiger, very civilly accosted 
him; and if it would be no intrusion, he said, 
he should be glad to bear him company on his 
way. Tiger, who happened not to be in so 
growling a mood as usual, accepted the proposal, 
and they very amicably pursued their journey 
together. In the midst of their conversation 






81 






82 


FABLES OF AESOP 


they arrived at the next village, where Tiger 
began to display his evil disposition by an un¬ 
provoked attack upon every dog he met. The 
villagers immediately sallied forth with great 
wrath to rescue their respective favorites; and, 
falling upon our two friends without distinction 
or mercy, poor Tray was most cruelly treated, 
for no other reason but his being found in bad 
company. Hasty and inconsiderate connections 
are generally attended with great disadvantages; 
and much of every man’s good or ill fortune 
depends upon the choice he makes of his friends. 


“Choose your friends well. 




FABLES OF AESOP 


83 


The Dog in the Manger 


A DOG was lying in a Manger full of hay. 

An Ox, being hungry, came near and 
was going to eat of the hay. The Dog, getting 
up and snarling at him, would not let him touch 
it. “Surly creature,” said the Ox, “you cannot 
eat the hay yourself, and yet you will let no 
one else have any.” 


"People often grudge others what they cannot 
enjoy themselves ” 





She fell to the ground. 


84 


FABLES OF AESOP 


85 


The Thirsty Pigeon 



PIGEON oppressed by excessive thirst 
saw a goblet of water painted on a sign¬ 
board. Not supposing it to be only a 
picture, she flew toward it with a loud 
whirr, and unwittingly dashed against 
the signboard and jarred herself terribly. Having 
broken her wings by the blow, she fell to the 
ground, and was caught by one of the by¬ 
standers. 


A • 




"Zeal should not outrun discretionJ 




86 


FABLES OF AESOP 


The Fox and the Countryman 



FOX, having been hunted hard and 
chased a long way, saw a Countryman at 
work in a wood, and begged him to help 
him to some hiding-place. The man said 
he might go into his cottage, which was close 
by. He was no sooner in than the huntsmen 
came up. “Have you seen a Fox pass this 
way?” said they. The Countryman said “No,” 
but pointed at the same time toward the place 










87 



88 


FABLES OF AESOP 


where the Fox lay. The huntsmen did not take 
the hint, however, and made off again at full 
speed. The Fox, who had seen all that took 
place through a chink in the wall, thereupon 
came out, and was walking away without a word. 
“Why, how now!” said the man; “haven’t you 
the manners to thank your host before you go?” 
“Yes, yes,” said the Fox; “if you had been as 
honest with your finger as you were with your 
tongue, I shouldn’t have gone without saying 
good-by.” 


“Actions speak louder than words ” 




FABLES OF AESOP 


89 


The Spendthrift and Swallow 



PRODIGAL young fellow, who had 

I A I 

|] A [ | run through all his money, and even 
|j |g 11 sold all his outer clothes except his 
:|******t cloak, seeing a Swallow skimming over 
the meadows one fine day in the early spring, 
believed that summer was really come, and sold 
his cloak, too. The next morning there happened 
to be a severe frost; and, shivering and nearly 
frozen himself, he found the Swallow lying stiff 
and dead upon the ground. He thereupon up¬ 
braided the poor bird as the cause of all his 
misfortunes. “Stupid thing,” said he, “had you 
not come before your time, I should not now 
be so wretched as I am.” 


"One Swallow does not make a summer ” 




90 


FABLES OF AESOP 


The Hunter, the Fox, and the Tiger 


CERTAIN Hunter saw in the middle of a 



field a Fox, whose skin was so beautiful 
that he wished to take him alive. Having this 
in view, he found out his hole, and just before 
the entrance to it he dug a large and deep pit, 
covered it with slender twigs and straw, and 
placed a piece of horseflesh on the middle of 
the covering. When he had done this he went 
and hid himself in a corner out of sight, and 
the Fox, returning to his hole and smelling the 
flesh, ran up to see what dainty morsel it was. 
When he came to the pit he would fain have 
tasted the meat, but fearing some trick he re¬ 
frained from doing so, and retreated into his hole. 





Sprang in 


haste to seize it. 


91 































92 


FABLES OF AESOP 


Presently up came a hungry Tiger, who, being 
tempted by the smell and appearance of the 
horseflesh, sprang in haste to seize it, and tum¬ 
bled into the pit. The Hunter, hearing the noise 
made by the Tiger in falling, ran up and jumped 
into the pit without looking into it, never doubt¬ 
ing that it was the Fox that had fallen in. But 
there, to his surprise, he found the Tiger, which 
quickly tore him in pieces and devoured him. 

“Do not always take things for granted,” 





FABLES OF AESOP 


93 


The Hen and the Fox 

FOX, having crept into an outhouse, 

mjjjj looked up and down for something to 

9! eat, and at last spied a Hen sitting upon 

mini 

!!!!!!! a perch so high that he could by no 
means come at her. He therefore had recourse 
to an old stratagem. “Dear cousin,” said he 
to her, “how do you do? I heard that you were 
ill and kept at home; I could not rest, therefore, 
till I had come to see you. Pray let me feel 
your pulse. Indeed, you do not look well at 
all.” He was running on in this impudent man¬ 
ner, when the Hen answered him from the roost: 
“Truly, dear Reynard, you are in the right. I 
was seldom in more danger than I am now. Pray 
excuse my coming down; I am sure I should 
catch my death.” The Fox, finding himself 
foiled, made off and tried his luck elsewhere. 


“Those who will not listen to flatterers will have a safer life.” 









94 


FABLES OF AESOP 


The Angler and the Little Fish 


HI A, FISHERMAN, who had caught a very 
little Fish, was about to throw him into 
his basket. The little fellow, gasping, 
pleaded thus for his life: “What! You are never 
going to keep such a little chap as I am, not one- 
quarter grown! Fifty such as I am wouldn’t 
make a decent dish. Do throw me back, and 
come and catch me again when I am bigger.” 
“It’s all very well to say ‘Catch me again,’ my 
little fellow,” replied the Man, “but you know 
you’ll make yourself very scarce for the future. 
You’re big enough to make one in a frying-pan, 
so in you go.” 

"A little thing in hand is worth more than a great 
thing in prospect ” 













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tfltimui 


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8mm 




You're big enough to make one in a frying pan. 











































































96 


FABLES OF AESOP 


The Fox and the Grapes 



HUNGRY Fox one day saw some 
tempting Grapes hanging at a good 
height from the ground. He made 
many attempts to reach them, but all 
❖❖****❖❖ in vain. Tired out by his failures, he 
walked off, grumbling to himself: “Nasty, sour 
things, I know you are, and not at all fit for a 
gentleman’s eating.” 


"It is easy to despise what you cannot get. s 





FABLES OF AESOP 


97 


The Man and the Lion 


\ MAN and a Lion were discussing the rela- 
^ tive strength of Men and Lions in gen¬ 
eral. The Man contended that he and his fellows 
were stronger than Lions by reason of their 
greater intelligence. “Come now with me,” he 
cried, “and I will soon prove that I am right.” 
So he took him into the public gardens and 
showed him a statute of Hercules overcoming the 
Lion and tearing his mouth in two. 

“That is all very well,” said the Lion, “but 
proves nothing, for it was a Man who made the 
statue.” 


“We can easily represent things as we wish them to be . 1 




98 


FABLES OF AESOP 


The Sheep and the Dog 


/np HE Sheep one day complained to the 
Shepherd that while they were shorn of 
their fleece, and their young ones often taken 
and killed for food, they received nothing in 
return but the green herbage of the earth, which 
grew of itself and cost him no pains to procure. 
“On the other hand, your Dog,” said they, 
“which gives no wool, and is of no use for food, 
is petted and fed with as good meat as his 
master.” “Cease, bleating simpletons!” replied 
the Dog, who overheard them; “were it not that 
I look after and watch you, and keep off Wolves 
and thieves, small good would be to you your 
herbage or anything else.” 


“When one is well off it is not to complain 1 




FABLES OF AESOP 


99 


The Wolf in Disguise 

WOLF, who by frequent visits to a flock 



* of Sheep in his neighborhood, began to be 
too well known to them, thought it wise, for the 
more successful carrying on of his thefts, to 
appear in a new character. To this end he 
disguised himself in a Shepherd’s habit; and 
resting his forefeet on a stick, which served him 
by way of a crook, he softly made his way 
toward the fold. It happened that the Shepherd 
and his Dog both lay on the grass, fast asleep; 
so that he would certainly have gained his end 
if he had not foolishly tried to imitate the 
Shepherd’s voice. The horrid noise awakened 
both, when the Wolf, encumbered with his dis¬ 
guise, and finding he could neither resist nor 
flee, yielded up his life, an easy prey to the 
Shepherds’ Dog. 


"Character is often determined by your language . J 




100 


FABLES OF AESOP 


The Hares and the Frogs 


! 4 i± 4 ii 4 i+HE Hares once took serious counsel 
« I j| among themselves whether death itself 
* g would not be preferable to their mis- 

erable condition. “What a sad state is ours,” 
they said, “never to eat in comfort, to sleep ever 
in fear, to be startled by a shadow, and fly with 
beating heart at the rustling of the leaves. Better 
death by far”; and off they went accordingly 
to drown themselves in a neighboring lake. Some 
scores of Frogs who were enjoying the moon¬ 
light on the bank, scared at the approach of the 
Hares, jumped into the water. The splash awoke 
fresh fears in the breasts of the timid Hares, 





i 



Jumped into the water . 




101 












































































102 


FABLES OF AESOP 


and they came to a full stop in their flight. One 
wise old fellow among them cried, “Hold, broth¬ 
ers! See, weak and fearful as we are, beings 
exist that are more weak and fearful still. Why, 
then, should we seek to die? Let us rather make 
the best of our lot, such as it is.” 


"There is always some one worse off than yourself ” 





FABLES OF AESOP 


103 


The Countryman and the Snake 


VILLAGER, one frosty day in the 
depth of winter, found a Snake under 
a hedge almost dead with the cold* 
Having pity on the poor creature, he 
brought it home, and laid it on the 



hearth near the fire. Revived by the heat, it 
reared itself up, and with dreadful hissings at¬ 
tacked the wife and children of its benefactor. 
The man, hearing their cries, rushed in, and with 
a mattock, which he brought in his hand, soon 
cut the snake in pieces. “Vile wretch!” said he; 
“is this the reward you make to him who saved 
your life? Die, as you deserve, but a single 
death is too good for you.. Ah,” said he, 


"iVo gratitude from the wicked: 




104 


FABLES OF AESOP 


The Wolf and the Kid 


KID was perched up on the top of a 
house, and looking down saw a Wolf 
passing under him. Immediately he 
began to revile and attack his enemy. 
“Murderer and thief,” he cried, “what do you 
here near honest folks’ houses? How dare you 
make an appearance where your vile deeds are 
known?” 

“Curse away, my young friend,” said the Wolf, 



“It is easy to be brave from a safe distance 






105 




































106 


FABLES OF AESOP 


The Fox and the Wolf 


PEHE] WOLF who lived in a cave, having laid 
I Al * n a g°°d store of provisions, kept him- 
pBjfj self very close, and set to work to enjoy 
them. A Fox, who missed the Wolf from his 
usual haunts, at last found out where he was, 
and under pretense of asking after his health, 
came to the mouth of the cave and peeped in. 





The Wolf. The Fox. 




>•••• 


107 














108 


FABLES OF AESOP 


He expected to be asked inside to partake, but 
the Wolf gruffly said that he was far too ill to 
see anybody. So the Fox trotted off again in 
anything but a charitable state of mind. Away 
he went to a Shepherd, and told the man to 
provide himself with a good stick and come with 
him and he would show him where to find a 
Wolf. The Shepherd came accordingly and killed 
the Wolf. The Fox thereupon took possession of 
the cave and its stores. He did not, however, 
long enjoy the fruits of his treachery, for the 
Man, passing by that way a few days after, 
looked into the cave, and, seeing the Fox there, 
killed him, too. 


“Security is not gotten by treachery ” 




FABLES OF AESOP 


109 


The Fox and the Lion 



T HE first time the Fox saw the Lion he 
nearly died with fright. The next time he 
gathered sufficient courage to have a good stare. 
The third time he went boldly up to the Lion 
and commenced a familiar conversation with 
him. 


'Familiarity breeds contempt , J 




When first you came l fancied you might be a thief.” 


110 


FABLES OF AESOP 


111 


The Thief and the Dog 


lifHHIil THIEF who came near a house one 


night to rob it was very much an¬ 
noyed at finding a stout Dog in the 
courtyard, who kept up a loud and 



Blrarr Hl 


steady bark. To quiet him he threw him a tempt¬ 
ing piece of meat, whereupon the Dog exclaimed: 
“When first you came I fancied you might be 
a Thief; now that you try to bribe me from my 
duty, I am sure you are one; and I shan’t leave 
off barking while you remain about the premises.” 


“It is impossible to bribe a natural servant / 









112 


FABLES OF AESOP 


The Frogs Desiring a King 


r ■ ''HE Frogs, living an easy, free sort of life 
among the lakes and ponds, once prayed 
Jupiter to send them a King. Jove, being at 
that time in a merry mood, threw them a Log, 
saying as he did so, “There, then, is a King for 
you.” Awed by the splash, the Frogs watched 
their King in fear and trembling, till at last, 
encouraged by his stillness, one more daring 
than the rest jumped upon the shoulder of his 
monarch. Soon many others followed his exam¬ 
ple, and made merry on the back of their unre¬ 
sisting King. Speedily tiring of such a torpid 
ruler, they again petitioned Jupiter, and asked 
him to send something more like a Kin g, This 









Igpill 




y+<<y.ysftx 




. .I 




■M&MM 








© 


gj 

V? 

V yv 

32 



He sent them a stork . 


113 







































































































114 


FABLES OF AESOP 


time he sent them a Stork, who tossed them 
about and gobbled them up without mercy. 
They lost no time, therefore, in beseeching the 
god to give them again their former state. “No, 
no,” replied he, “a King that did you no harm 
did not please you. Make the best of the one 
you have, or you may chance to get a worse in 
his place.” 


“Better no rule than cruel rule . 1 





FABLES OF AESOP 


115 


The Ass and the Lion Hunting 

r T'HE Lion once took a fancy to go hunting 
in company with an Ass. He sent the Ass 
into the forest, and told him to bray there as 
hard as he could. “By that means,” said he, 
“you will rouse all the beasts in the forest. I 
shall stand here and catch all that fly this way.” 
The Ass brayed in his most hideous manner; 
and when the Lion was tired of slaughter, he 
called to him to come out of the wood. “Did I 
not do my part well?” asked the conceited beast. 
“Excellently well,” replied the Lion. “Had I 
not known that you were nothing more than an 
Ass, I should have been frightened myself.” 


'Do not be proud of being a fool: 




116 


FABLES OF AESOP 


The Fowler and the Birds 




FOWLER, in killing some Birds which 
he had caught in his nets, wounded his 
hand by accident so severely that he shed 
tears for the pain he suffered. “See,” 
said a young Bird, “he shows signs of pity for 
us.” “Don’t mind his tears,” said an old Bird, 
“but look at his bloody hands.” 



True pity is not to be judged by tears . 1 






FABLES OF AESOP 


117 


The Covetous Man 


KS>i 


MISER once buried all his money in the 
earth at the foot of a tree, and went 
every day to feast upon the sight of his 
treasure. A thievish fellow, who had 
watched him at this occupation, came one 
night and carried off the gold. The next day 
the Miser, finding his treasure gone, tore his 
clothes and filled the air with his lamentations. 
One of his neighbors told him that if he viewed 
the matter aright he had lost nothing. “Go 
every day,” said he, “and fancy your money is 
there, and you will be as well off as ever.” 



“Wealth unusued might as well not exist/* 




Was 



caught in a trap which the farmer had planted there. 



118 



FABLES OF AESOP 


119 


The Fox and the Cock 




FOX, passing early one summer’s 
morning near a farmyard, was 
caught in a trap which the farmer 
had planted there for that purpose. 
A Cock saw at a distance what had 
happened, and, hardly daring to trust himself 
too near so dangerous a foe, approached him 
cautiously and peeped at him, not without con¬ 
siderable fear. Reynard saw him, and in his most 
bewitching manner addressed him as follows: 
“See, dear cousin,” said he, “what an unfortu¬ 
nate accident has befallen me here! And, believe 


II 11 11 

■Ah 

■ H H 

■ II M 









120 


FABLES OF AESOP 


me, it is all on your account. I was creeping 
through yonder hedge, on my way homeward, 
when I heard you crow, and resolved, before I 
went any further, to come and ask you how you 
did. By the way I met with this disaster. Now, 
if you would but run to the house and bring 
me a pointed stick, I think I could force it into 
this trap and free myself from its grip. Such 
a service I should not soon forget.” The Cock 
ran off and soon came back, not without the 
stick, which, however, was carried in the hand 
of the sturdy farmer, to whom he had told the 
story, and who lost no time in putting it out of 
Master Fox’s power to do any harm for the 
future. 


“No help should be given to the wicked.** 




FABLES OF AESOP 


121 


The Dog Invited to Supper 




CERTAIN rich Man invited a person 
of high rank to supper with him. 
Extraordinary preparations were made 
for the repast, and all the delicacies of 
the season provided. The Dog of the 
host having long wished to entertain another 
Dog, a friend of his, thought this would be a 
capital time to ask him to come. As soon, there¬ 
fore, as it fell dusk the invited Dog came, and 
was shown by his friend into the kitchen. The 


• ••• 

• A # 

•A® 

• ••• 
• ••• 
•••• 





He limped away and was soon surrounded. 


122 


FABLES OF AESOP 


123 


preparations there filled him with astonishment, 
and he resolved that when the time came he 
would eat enough to last him a week. He wagged 
his tail so hard and licked his chaps in anticipa¬ 
tion with so much vigor that he attracted the 
notice of the head Cook, who, seeing a strange 
Dog about, caught him up by the tail, and after 
giving him a swing in the air sent him flying 
through the open window into the street. He 
limped away, and was soon surrounded by a 
lot of Dogs, to whom he had boasted of his 
invitation. They asked him eagerly how he had 
fared. “Oh, rarely,” answered he. “I went on 
to that extent that I hardly knew which way 
I got out of the house.” 


'Manners always speak louder than words/* 




124 


FABLES OF AESOP 


The Bear and the Fowls 



BEAR, who was bred in the savage 
II a: l| deserts of Siberia, wished to see the 
world. He traveled from forest to for¬ 


est, and from one kingdom to another, 
I|I.h"k'k 4* making many profound observations on 
his way. One day he came by accident into a 
farmer’s yard, where he saw a number of Fowls 
standing to drink by the side of a pool. Observ¬ 
ing that after every sip they turned up their 
heads toward the sky, he could not forbear 









Fowls standing to drink by a pool , 


125 









126 


FABLES OF AESOP 


inquiring the reason of so peculiar a ceremony. 
They told him that it was by way of returning 
thanks to Heaven for the benefits they received; 
and was indeed an ancient and religious custom, 
which they could not, with a safe conscience, or 
without impiety, omit. Here the Bear burst into 
a fit of laughter, at once mimicking their gestures, 
and ridiculing their superstition, in a most con¬ 
temptuous manner. On this the Cock, with a 
spirit suitable to the boldness of his character, 
addressed him in the following words: “As you 
are a stranger, sir, you may perhaps be excused 
the indecency of your behavior; yet give me 
leave to tell you that none but a Bear would ridi¬ 
cule any religious ceremonies in the presence of 
those who believe them of importance.” 


“Only the ill bred mock at others. 




The Bear broke into a fit of laughter. 


127 









128 


FABLES OF AESOP 


The Peacock and Juno 


S HE Peacock complained to Juno that 
while every one laughed at his voice, an 
insignificant creature like the Nightingale 
had a note that delighted everybody. 
Juno, angry at the unreasonableness of her favor¬ 
ite bird, scolded him thus: “Envious bird that 
you are, I am sure you have no cause to com¬ 
plain. On your neck shine all the colors of the 
rainbow, and your extended tail shows like a 
mass of gems. No living being has every good 
thing to its own share. The falcon is endowed 
with swiftness, the eagle strength, the parrot 
speech, the raven the gift of augury, and the 
nightingale with a melodious voice, while you have 
both size and beauty. Cease, then, to complain, 
or the gifts you have shall be taken away.” 


'Be content with your lot; one cannot be first in everything.” 






Juno angry at the 


unreasonableness. 


129 










130 


FABLES OF AESOP 


The Fox in the Well 


N unlucky Fox, having fallen into a Well, 
was able, by dint of great efforts, just 
to keep his head above water. While he 
was there struggling and sticking his 
claws into the side of the Well, a Wolf came 
by and looked in. “What, my dear brother!” 
said he, with affected concern, “can it really 
be you that I see down there? How cold you 
must feel! How long have you been in? How 
came you to fall in? I am so pained to see 
you. Do tell me all about it.” “The end of a 
rope would be of more use to me than all your 
pity,” answered the Fox. “Just help me to set 
my foot once more on solid ground, and you 
shall have the whole story.” 



"Never trust the advice of a man in difficulties: 










FABLES OF AESOP 


131 


The Mocking Bird 




HERE is a certain Bird in America 
H X @ which has the faculty of mimicking 
the notes of every other songster, with¬ 
out being able himself to add any original strains 
to the concert. As one of these Mocking Birds 
was displaying his talent of ridicule among the 
branches of a venerable wood, “ ’Tis very well,” 
said a little warbler, speaking in the name of 
all the rest; “we grant you that our music is 
not without its faults; but why will you not 
favor us with a strain of your own?” 


“To only imitate does not create great character ” 




132 


FABLES OF AESOP 


The Ass Laden with Salt and with 
Sponge 


A MAN drove his Ass to the seaside, 
and, having purchased there a load 
of salt, proceeded on his way home. 
In crossing a stream the Ass stumbled 
and fell. It was some time before 
he regained his feet, and by that time the salt 
had all melted away, and he was delighted to 
find that he had lost his burden. A little while 
after that the Ass, when laden with sponges, had 
occasion to cross the same stream. Remembering 
his former good luck, he stumbled this time on 
purpose, and was surprised to find that his load, 
so far from disappearing, became many times 
heavier than before. 



The Easy way is not always the best." 



















He was delighted to find that he had lost his burden . 





























134 


FABLES OF AESOP 


The Stag in the Ox-Stall 


STAG, chased from his lair by the 
hounds, took refuge in a farmyard, 
and, entering a stable where a num¬ 
ber of Oxen were stalled, thrust him¬ 
self under a pile of hay in a vacant 
stall, where he lay concealed, all but the tips of 
his horns. Presently one of the Oxen said to 
him, “What has induced you to come in here? 
Aren’t you aware of the risk you are running 







Chased from, his lair by the hounds. 


135 









136 


FABLES OF AESOP 


of being captured by the herdsmen?” To which 
he replied, “Pray let me stay for the present. 
When night comes I shall easily escape under 
cover of the dark.” In the course of the after¬ 
noon more than one of the farm-hands came in, 
to attend to the wants of the cattle, but not one 
of them noticed the presence of the Stag, who 
accordingly began to congratulate himself on his 
escape and to express his gratitude to the Oxen. 
“We wish you well,” said the one who had spoken 
before, “but you are not out of danger yet. If 
the master comes you will certainly be found out, 
for nothing ever escapes his keen eyes.” Pres¬ 
ently, sure enough, in he came, and made a great 
to-do about the way the Oxen were kept. “The 
beasts are starving!” he cried; “here, give them 
more hay, and put plenty of litter under them.” 





FABLES OF AESOP 


137 


As he spoke, he seized an armful himself from 
the pile where the Stag lay concealed, and at 
once detected him. Calling his men, he had him 
seized at once and killed for the table. 

"Nothing escapes the Master's eye /* 







138 


FABLES OF AESOP 


The Mule Laden with Corn and the 
Mule Laden with Gold 


TrpfWO Mules were being driven along a 
| j lonely road. One was laden with Corn 
IHHHI and the other with Gold. The one that 
lUllflt carried the Gold was so proud of his 
burden that, although it was very heavy, he 
would not for the world have the least bit of 
it taken away. He trotted along with stately 
step, his bells jingling as he went. By and by 
some Robbers fell upon them. They let the 
Mule that carried the Corn go free; but they 
seized the Gold which the other carried, and, as 
he kicked and struggled to prevent their robbing 
him, they stabbed him to the heart. In dying, 
he said to the other Mule:. “I see, brother, it 
is not always well to have grand duties to per¬ 
form. If, like you, I had only served a Miller, 
this sad state would not now be mine.” 


“Humble occupation is often a security ” 




FABLES OF AESOP 


139 


The Fox and the Sick Lion 


I T was reported that the Lion was sick and 
confined to his den, where he would be happy 
to see any of his subjects who might come to 
pay the homage that was due to him. Many 
accordingly went in, but it was observed that 
the Fox very carefully kept away. The Lion 
noticed his absence, and sent one of his Jackals 
to express a hope that he would show he was not 
insensible to motives of respect and charity, by 
coming and paying his duty like the rest. The 
Fox told the Jackal to offer his sincerest rever¬ 
ence to his master, and to say that he had more 
than once been on the point of coming to see 
him, but he had in truth observed that all the 
footprints at the mouth of the cave pointed 




140 


FABLES OF AESOP 


inward, and none outward, and not being able 
to explain the fact to his satisfaction, he had 
taken the liberty of stopping away. The truth 
was that the illness of the Lion’s was only a 
sham to induce the beasts to come to his den, 
that he might the more easily devour them. 


“Be not too easily led/* 










FABLES OF AESOP 


141 


The Monkey and the Dolphin 


Kg>< 


HEN people go on a voyage they often 
take with them Lap-Dogs or Monkeys 
as pets to while away the time. Thus 
it fell out that a man returning to Athens from 
the East had a pet Monkey on board with him. 
As they neared the coast of Attica a great storm 
burst upon them, and the ship capsized. All on 
board were thrown into the water, and tried 
to save themselves by swimming, the Monkey 
among the rest. A Dolphin saw him, and, sup- 





142 


FABLES OF AESOP 


posing him to be a man, took him on his back 
and began swimming towards the shore. When 
they got near the Piraeus, which is the port of 
Athens, the Dolphin asked the Monkey if he 
was an Athenian. The Monkey replied that he 
was, and added that he came of a very distin¬ 
guished family. “Then, of course, you know the 
Piraeus,” continued the Dolphin. The Monkey 
thought he was referring to some high official 
or other, and replied, “Oh, yes, he’s a very old 
friend of mine.” At that, detecting his hypocrisy, 
the Dolphin was so disgusted that he dived 
below the surface, and the unfortunate Monkey 
was quickly drowned. 


"Falsehood leads to destruction.” 






















The Dolphin asked the Monkey if he was an Athenian. 


143 

























144 


FABLES OF AESOP 


The whole flock instantly ascended into the air. 

The Wild and Tame Geese 

iilillW O Geese strayed from a farmyard and 
lljll swam down a stream to a large morass, 
HHH which afforded them an extensive range 
Him and plenty of food. A flock of Wild 
Geese frequently resorted to the same place; and 
though they were at first so shy as not to suffer 
the tame ones to join them, by degrees they 















FABLES OF AESOP 


145 


became well acquainted and associated freely 
together. One evening their crackling reached 
the ears of a Fox that was prowling at no great 
distance from the morass. The artful plunderer 
directed his course through a wood on the bor¬ 
ders of it, and was within a few yards of his 
prey before any of the geese perceived him. But 
the alarm was given just as he was springing upon 
them, and the whole flock instantly ascended 
into the air, with loud and dissonant cries. The 
Wild Geese winged their flight into higher 
regions, and were seen no more; but the two 
tame ones, unused to soar, and accustomed to 
receive protection without any exertion of their 
own powers, soon dropped down, and became 
successively the victims of the Fox. 


“Home is always safer than strange places . J 




146 


FABLES OF AESOP 


The Frog Who Wished to Be as Big 
as an Ox 


N Ox, grazing in a meadow, chanced 
to set his foot on a young Frog and 
crushed him to death. His brothers 
and sisters, who were playing near, at 
once ran to tell their mother what had happened. 
“The monster that did it, Mother, was such a 
size!” said they. The Mother, who was a vain 
old thing, thought that she could easily make 
herself as large. “Was it as big as this?” she 
asked, blowing and puffing herself out. “Oh, 
much bigger than that,” replied the young Frogs. 
“As this, then?” cried she, puffing and blowing 
again with all her might. “Nay, mother,” said 
they; “if you were to try till you burst yourself, 
you would never be so big.” The silly old Frog 
tried to puff herself out still more, and burst 
herself indeed. 



" Self-conceit may lead to self-destruction ” 

































Who ivere playing near. 





147 




































148 


FABLES OF AESOP 


The Dog and the Crocodile 




®®®®®® DOG, running along the banks of 

(§) ® the Nile, grew thirsty, but fearing 

® ® t0 se i ze d by the monsters of 

® „ „ ® that river, he would not stop to 

® ®® ® 

®®®®®® satiate his drought, but lapped as 
he ran. A Crocodile, raising his head above 
the surface of the water, asked him why he was 
in such a hurry. He had often, he said, wished 
for his acquaintance, and should be glad to 
embrace the present opportunity. “You do me 
great honor,” said the Dog, “but it is to avoid 
such companions as you that I am in so much 
haste.” 


“We can never be too carefully guarded against acquaintance 
with persons of bad character “ 





A Crocodile raising his head above the surface of the waters. 


149 
















150 


FABLES OF AESOP 


The Viper and the File 


*<m>* 


A VIPER entered a smith’s shop, and looked 
up and down for something to eat. He 
settled at last upon a file, and began to gnaw 
it greedily. “Bite away,” said the File gruffly, 
“you’ll get little from me. It is my business to 
take from all and give to none.” 


‘It is useless attacking the insensible.” 




FABLES OF AESOP 


151 


The Lion in Love 


IA 


LION fell in love with the fair 

.. daughter of a Forester, and de- 

:8E8T£ftttff man ded her of her father in mar- 
r j a g e- The man durst not refuse, 
though he would gladly have done so; but he 
told the Lion that his daughter was so young 
and delicate that he could only consent upon 
condition that his teeth should first be drawn 
and his claws cut off. The Lion was so enslaved 
by love that he agreed to this without a murmur, 
and it was accordingly done. The Forester then 
seized a club, laid him dead upon the spot, and 
so broke off the match. 


‘Love can tame the wildest/* 




152 


FABLES OF AESOP 


The Fox Without a Tail 


A FOX was once caught in a trap by his tail 
and in order to get away was forced 
to leave it behind. Knowing that with¬ 
out a tail he would be a laughing-stock for all 
his fellows, he resolved to try to induce them 
to part with theirs. So at the next assembly of 
Foxes he made a speech on the foolish habit of 
tails in general, and the inconvenience of a Fox’s 
tail in particular, adding that he had never felt so 
easy as since he had given up his own. When he 
had sat down, a sly old fellow rose, and waving 
his long brush with a graceful air, said, with a 
laugh, that if, like the last speaker, he had lost 
his tail, nothing further would have been needed 
to convince him; but till such an accident should 
happen, he should certainly vote in favor of tails. 


‘Do not follow bad advice ” 




In order to get away he was forced to leave it behind. 



154 


FABLES OF AESOP 


The Thief and the Innkeeper 


THIEF hired a room in a tavern, and 
, 11 stayed some days in the hope of stealing 
11 something which should enable him to pay 
©z:© his reckoning. When he had waited some 
days in vain, he saw the Innkeeper dressed in 
a new and handsome coat, and sitting before 
his door. The Thief sat down beside him, and 
talked with him. As the conversation began to 
flag, the Thief yawned terribly, and at the same 
time howled like a wolf. The Innkeeper said, 
“Why do you howl so fearfully?” “I will tell 
you,” said the Thief: “but first let me ask you 
to hold my clothes, for I wish to leave them in 
your hands. I know not, sir, when I got this 
habit of yawning, nor whether these attacks of 








FABLES OF AESOP 


155 


howling were inflicted on me as a judgment for 
my crimes, or for any other cause; but this 1 
do know, that when I yawn for the third time, 
I actually turn into a wolf, and attack men.” 
With this speech he commenced a second fit of 
yawning, and again howled as a wolf, as he did 
at first. The Innkeeper hearing his tale, and 
believing what he said, became greatly alarmed, 
and rising from his seat, attempted to run away. 
The Thief laid hold of his coat, and entreated 
him to stop, saying, “Pray wait, sir, and hold 
my clothes, or I shall tear them to pieces in 
my fury, when I turn into a wolf.” At the same 
moment he yawned the third time, and set up 
a howl like a wolf. The Innkeeper, frightened 
lest he should be attacked, left his new coat 
in his hand, and ran as fast as he could into 
the inn for safety. The Thief made off with his 
new coat, and did not return again to the inn. 


"Every tale is not to be believed" 




156 


FABLES OF AESOP 


The Dog and the Shadow 


/¥|T happened that a Dog had got a piece of 
\ J meat and was carrying it home in his mouth 
to eat it in peace. Now, on his way home he 
had to cross a plank lying across a running 
brook. As he crossed, he looked down and saw 
his own shadow reflected in the water beneath. 
Thinking it was another dog with another piece 
of meat, he made up his mind to have that also. 
So he made a snap at the shadow in the water, 
but as he opened his mouth the piece of meat 
fell out, dropped into the water and was never 
seen any more. 


“Beware lest you lost the substance by grasping at the shadow.” 



















...... 


JASHt 

"""" 









And saw his own shadow. 




t 


N 





157 






















































































158 


FABLES OF AESOP 


The Knight and His Charger 

CERTAIN Knight in time of war 
took great pains to keep his horse 
well fed and cared for, and in first- 
rate condition. When the war was 
over the Knight’s pay was reduced, 
and he allowed his Horse, that had carried him 
nobly through many a hot engagement, to be 
used for dragging huge logs of timber, and for 
hire in many other rough and disagreeable ways. 
Being thus hardly fed and badly treated, the 
animal’s strength and spirit fell away. It was 
not long before the war was renewed, and the 
Knight, taking his Horse to himself again, tried, 










To 


make him into a battle 


steed once more. 


159 




160 


FABLES OF AESOP 


by good feeling and better treatment, to make 
him into a battle-steed once more. There was 
not time for this, however, and the Horse, as his 
weak legs gave way under him in a charge, said 
to his master, “It is too late now to repair your 
neglect. You have degraded me from a Horse 
into an Ass. It is not my fault that I can no 
longer bear you as before.” 


“It is unwise to neglect a useful tool, even when not in use ” 







FABLES OF AESOP 


161 


The Buffoon and the Countryman 




IfiftffltN the occasion of some festivities that 
O were given by a Roman nobleman, a 
droll fellow of a Merry-Andrew caused 
much laughter by his tricks upon the 
stage, and, more than all, by his imitation of 
the squeaking of a pig. It seemed to the hearers 
so real that they called for it again and again. 
One Man, however, in the audience, thought the 
imitation was not perfect; and he made his way 
to the stage and said that, if he were permitted, 
he to-morrow would enter the lists and squeak 
against the Merry-Andrew for a wager. The 




162 


FABLES OF AESOP 


mob, anticipating great fun, shouted their con¬ 
sent, and accordingly, when the next day came, 
the two rival jokers were in their place. The 
hero of the previous day went first, and the 
hearers, more pleased than ever, fairly roared 
with delight. Then came the turn of the Coun¬ 
tryman, who, having a Pig carefully concealed 
under his cloak, so that no one would have 
suspected its existence, vigorously pinched its 
ear with his thumb-nail, and made it squeak 
with a vengeance. “Not half as good—not half 
as good!” cried the audience, and many among 
them even began to hiss. “Fine judges you!” 
replied the Countryman, rushing to the front of 
the stage, drawing the Pig from under his cloak, 
and holding the animal up on high. “Behold 
the performer that you condemn.” 


“Men often applaud an imitation, and hiss the real thing/' 




FABLES OF AESOP 


163 


Hercules and Pallas 

T TERCULES, once journeying along a narrow 
roadway, came across a strange-looking 
animal that reared its head and threatened him. 
Nothing daunted, the hero gave him a few lusty 
blows with his club and thought to have gone on 
his way. The monster, however, much to the as¬ 
tonishment of Hercules, was now three times as 
big as it was before and of a still more threatening 
aspect. He thereupon redoubled his blows and 
laid about him fast and furiously; but the harder 
and quicker the strokes of the club, the bigger and 
more frightful grew the monster, and now com¬ 
pletely filled up the road. Pallas then appeared 
upon the scene. “Stop, Hercules,” said she. 
“Cease your blows. The monster’s name is Strife. 
Let it alone, and it will soon become as little 
as it was at first.” 


"Hard blows will not keep a good man down . 




164 


FABLES OF AESOP 


The One-Eyed Doe 


A DOE that had but one eye used to graze 
near the sea, so that she might keep her 
blind eye toward the water while she surveyed 
the country and saw that no hunters came near 
with the other. It happened, however, that 
some men in a boat saw her, and as she did 
not perceive their approach they came very close, 
and one who had a gun fired and shot her. In 
her dying agony she cried out: “Alas, hard 
fate! that I should receive my death-wound 
from the side whence I expected no ill, and be 
safe on that where I looked for most danger.” 


“You cannot escape your fate/* 





165 





166 


FABLES OF AESOP 


The Stag at the Pool 


J _^ THIRSTY Stag went down to a pool 
to drink. As he bent over the surface 
he saw his own reflection in the water, 
and was struck with admiration for his 
fine spreading antlers, but at the same 
time he felt nothing but disgust for the weakness 
and slenderness of his legs. While he stood there 
looking at himself, he was seen and attacked by 
a Lion; but in the chase which ensued, he soon 
drew away from his pursuer, and kept his lead 
as long as the ground over which he ran was 
open and free of trees. But coming presently 
to a wood, he was caught by his antlers in the 
branches, and fell a victim to the teeth and claws 
of his enemy. “Woe is me!” he cried with his 
last breath; “I despised my legs, which might 
have saved my life; but I gloried in my horns, 
and they have proved my ruin.” 

“What is worth most is often valued least ” 



























.. Ill 


■ • • ■ • • • •••.•.•.••.*.*'.'i 


DASH 




was struck with admiration. 






167 


























































































168 


FABLES OF AESOP 


The Lion, the Fox, and the Ass 


N Ass and a Fox were rambling 

d:f 

\r 

a 

% i 


•| : I !$I through a forest one day, when they 

!?i A !?! 

lx! A lXl were met by a Lion. The Fox was 

i j.». ■ J 

||j seized with great fear, and taking the 


| first opportunity of getting the ear 
of the Lion, thought to obtain his own safety 
at the expense of his companion. “Sire,” said 
he, “yon same Ass is young and plump, and if 
your Majesty would care to make a dinner off 
him, I know how he might be caught without 
much trouble. There is a pitfall not far away 
into which I can easily lead him.” The Lion 
agreed, and, seeing the Ass securely taken, he 
began his dinner by devouring the traitorous 
Fox, reserving the Ass to be eaten at his leisure. 


“Rewards are never gained by treachery” 







When they were met by a Lion . 


169 



170 


FABLES OF AESOP 


The Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing 


A WOLF found great difficulty in getting 
at the sheep owing to the vigilance of 
the shepherd and his dogs. But one day it 
found the skin of a sheep that had been flayed 
and thrown aside, so it put it on over its own 
pelt and strolled down among the sheep. The 
Lamb that belonged to the sheep whose skin the 
Wolf was wearing began to follow the Wolf in 
the sheep’s clothing; so, leading the Lamb a 
little apart, he soon made a meal off her, and 
for some time he succeeded in deceiving the 
sheep, and enjoying hearty meals. 


“Appearances are deceptive ” 










So he put it on over its own pelt. 


\ 


\ 


171 










172 


FABLES OF AESOP 


The Swallow and Other Birds 


• FARMER, sowing his fields with flax, 
3)099 was observed by a Swallow, who, like 

the rest of her tribe, had traveled a 

• ••• good deal and was very clever. Among 
other things, she knew that of the same flax, 
when it grew up, nets and snares would be 
made, to entrap her little friends, the Birds of 
the country. Hence she earnestly besought them 
to help her in picking up and eating the hateful 
seed before it had time to spring from the 
ground. Food of a much nicer kind was, how¬ 
ever, then so plentiful, and it was so pleasant 
to fly about and sing, thinking of nothing, that 
they paid no attention to her entreaties. By 
and by the blades of the flax appeared above 
the ground, and the anxiety of the Swallow was 




FABLES OF AESOP 


173 


renewed. “It is not yet too late,” said she; 
“pull it all up, blade by blade, and you may 
then escape the fate which is otherwise in store 
for you. You cannot, like me, fly to other coun¬ 
tries when danger threatens you here.” The 
little Birds, however, still took no notice of the 
Swallow, except to consider her a very trouble¬ 
some person, whom silly fears had set beside 
herself. In the course of time the flax grew, 
ripened, and was gathered, and made up into 
nets, as the Swallow had foretold. Many a little 
Bird thought, in dying, of the Swallow they 
held to be so crazy. The Swallow, in despair 
at their thoughtless behavior, has since preferred 
the society of men to that of her former com¬ 
panions. 


"Destroy the seed of evil, or it will grow up to your ruin " 





174 


FABLES OF AESOP 


The Wolf and the Lamb 


'E upon a time a Wolf was lapping at 
spring on a hillside, when looking up, 
what should he see but a Lamb just beginning 
to drink a little lower down. “There’s my sup¬ 
per,” thought he, “if only I can find some excuse 
to seize it.” Then he called out to the Lamb, 
“How dare you muddle the water from which I 
am drinking?” 

“Nay, master, nay,” said Lambikin; “if the 
water be muddy up there, I cannot be the cause 
of it, for it runs down from you to me.” 

“Well, then,” said the Wolf, “why did you call 
me bad names this time last year?” 







Said the Lamb, ‘7 am only six months old 


175 








176 


FABLES OF AESOP 


“That cannot be,” said the Lamb; “I am only 
six months old.” 

“I don’t care,” snarled the Wolf; “if it was 
not you, it was your father”; and with that he 
rushed upon the poor little Lamb and— 
Warra, warra, warra, warra, warra— 
ate her all up. But before she died she gasped 
out: 


‘Any excuse will serve a tyrant ” 




FABLES OF AESOP 


177 


The Maid and the Pail of Milk 




D OLLY, the Milkmaid, having been a good 
girl for a long time, and careful in her 
work, her mistress gave her a Pail of 
New Milk for herself. With the Pail on her 
head, she was tripping gayly along to the house 
of the Doctor, who was going to give a large 
party, and wanted the Milk for a junket. “For 
this Milk I shall get a shilling,” said Dolly, 
“and with that shilling I shall buy twenty of 
the eggs laid by our neighbor’s fine fowls. These 





Her mistress gave her a pail of milk. 





178 














FABLES OF AESOP 


179 


eggs I shall put under mistress’ old hen, and if 
only half of the chicks grow up and thrive 
before the next fair time comes round I shall 
be able to sell them for a good guinea. Then 
I shall buy that jacket I saw in the village the 
other day, and a hat and ribbons, too; and 
when I go to the fair, how smart I will be! 
Robin will be there, for certain, and he will 
come up and offer to be friends again. I won’t 
come round so easily, though; and when he 
tries to kiss me, I shall just toss up my head 
and—” Here Dolly gave her head the toss she 
was thinking about. Down came the Pail, and 
the Milk ran out on the ground! Good-by now 
the eggs, chickens, jacket, hat, ribbons, and all! 


‘Do not count your chickens before they are hatchedJ 




180 


FABLES OF AESOP 


The Fox and the Ass 





IAN Ass, finding a Lion’s skin, put it on, and 
ranged about the forest. The beasts fled 
in terror, and he was delighted at the 
success of his disguise. Meeting a Fox, 
he rushed upon him, and this time he tried to 
imitate as well the roaring of the Lion. “Ah,” 
said the Fox, “if you had held your tongue I 
should have been deceived like the rest; but 
now you bray I know who you are.” 


“Fine clothes may disguise, but silly words will disclose a fool 





He tried to imitate as well the roaring of the Lion. 


181 


182 


FABLES OF AESOP 


The Nurse and the Wolf 

S a Wolf was hunting up and down 
for his supper, he passed by the 
door of a house where a little child 
was crying loudly. “Hold your 
tongue,” said the Nurse to the 
child, “or I’ll throw you to the 
Wolf.” The Wolf, hearing this, waited near the 
house, expecting that she would keep her word. 
The Nurse, however, when the child was quiet, 
changed her tone, and said: “If the naughty 
Wolf comes now we will beat his brains out for 
him.” The Wolf thought it was then high time 
to be off, and he went away grumbling at his 
folly in putting faith in the words of a woman. 



“Enemies promises were made to be broken ” 










Hunting up and down for his supper. 


183 












He that is neither one thing or the other has no friends. 


184 






FABLES OF AESOP 


185 


The Birds, the Beasts, and the Bat 


NCE upon a time a fierce war was waged 
between the Birds and the Beasts. The 
Bat at first fought on the side of the Birds, but 
later on in the day the tide of battle ran so 
much in favor of the Beasts that he changed 
over and fought on the other side. Owing 
mainly, however, to the admirable conduct and 
courage of the Eagle, the tide once more, and 
finally, turned in favor of the Birds. The Bat, 
to save his life and escape the shame of falling 
into the hands of his deserted friends, fled, and 
has ever since skulked in caves and hollow 
trees, coming out only in the dusk, when the 
Birds are gone to roost. 


“He that is neither one thing nor the other has no friends 




186 


FABLES OF AESOP 


The Goat and the Lion 




r I ' HE Lion, seeing a'Goat skipping about in 
■** high glee upon a steep, craggy rock, called 
to him to come down upon the green pasture 
where he stood, and where he could feed in much 
greater comfort. The Goat, who saw through 
the design of the Lion, replied: “Many thanks 
for your advice, dear Lion, but I wonder whether 
you are thinking most of my comfort, or how 
you would relish a nice morsel of Goat’s flesh.” 


“Never accept interested advice” 







“Many thanks for your advicedear Lion. 


187 



































188 


FABLES OF AESOP 


The Ass Carrying an Idol 

r | ’'HE Master of an Ass was employed to take 
an idol from the shop of the sculptor where 
it was made to the temple in which it was to be 
placed. For this purpose it was put on the back 
of the Ass and carried through the principal 
streets of the city. Seeing that all the people 
as he went along bent themselves in lowly rever¬ 
ence, the animal fancied that it was to him that 
they were doing obeisance, and in consequence 
pricked up his ears, flourished his tail, and felt 
as proud as might be. The Idol once delivered, 
the Man mounted his Ass and rode him home. 
The Man was not at all pleased with the amount 
he had received for the job, and the poor brute, 
feeling the weight of his Master’s cudgel, and 
finding that the people now took not the slightest 
notice as he passed, saw that it was to the Idol 
and not to himself that the homage had been 
paid. 


Do not try to take credit that is due to others.” 







189 



190 


FABLES OF AESOP 


The Flies and the Honey-Pot 


*m* 


iwesA JAR of honey having been upset in a 
gggg housekeeper’s room, a number of Flies 
were attracted by its sweetness, and, 
placing their feet in it, ate it greedily. 
Their feet, however, became so smeared with 
the honey that they could not use their wings, 
nor release themselves, and were suffocated. Just 
as they were expiring, they exclaimed: “Oh, 
foolish creatures that we are; for the sake of a 
little pleasure we have destroyed ourselves.” 


“Pleasure bought with pains , hurts/' 





Their feet, however, became so smeared. 


191 





192 


FABLES OF AESOP 


The Wolf and the Ass 

||||||HE Wolves once selected one of their 
HTiI number to be their ruler. The Wolf that 
Mill was chosen was a plausible, smooth- 
111111 spoken rascal, and on a very early day 
he addressed an assembly of the Wolves as fol¬ 
lows: “One thing,” he said, “is of such vital 
importance, and will tend so much to our general 
welfare, that I cannot impress it too strongly upon 
your attention. Nothing cherishes true brotherly 
feeling and promotes the general good so much 
as the suppression of all selfishness. Let each 
one of you, then, share with any hungry brother 
who may be near whatever in hunting may fall 
to your lot.” “Hear, hear;” cried an Ass, who 
listened to the speech; “and, of course, you 
yourself will begin with the fat Sheep that you 
hid yesterday in a corner of your lair.” 


“Practice what you preach 





















FABLES OF AESOP 


193 


The Fox and the Ape 



PON the decease of the Lion, 
the beasts of the forest assem¬ 
bled to choose another king. 


The Ape played so many grimaces, gambols, and 
antic tricks that he was elected by a large major¬ 
ity and the crown was placed upon his head. 
The Fox, envious of this distinction, seeing soon 
after a trap baited with a piece of meat, ap¬ 
proached the new king and said, with mock 
humility: “May it please your majesty, I have 
found on your domain a treasure to which, if 
you will deign to accompany me, I will conduct 
you.” The Ape thereupon set off with the Fox, 
and on arriving at the spot laid his paw upon 
the meat. Snap! went the trap, and caught him 
by the fingers. Mad with shame and the pain, 
he reproached the Fox for a false thief and a 
traitor. Reynard laughed heartily, and going off, 
said over his shoulder, with a sneer: 


“You a king, and not understand a trap!" 




194 


FABLES OF AESOP 


The Mule 


morning a Mule, who had too much to 
eat and too little to do, began to think him¬ 
self a very fine fellow indeed, and frisked about 
saying, “My father was undoubtedly a high- 
spirited horse and I take after him entirely.” 
But very soon afterwards he was put into the 
harness and compelled to go a very long way with 
a heavy load behind him. At the end of the 
day, exhausted by his unusual exertions, he said 
dejectedly to himself, “I must have been mis¬ 
taken about my father; he can only have been 
a Mule, after all.” 


‘A heavy load is a sure cure for conceit 




♦ 



“l must have been mistaken about my father 


195 







The Horse in its fine trappings. 



FABLES OF AESOP 


197 


The Horse and the Ass 


A HORSE and an Ass were traveling to- 
gether, the Horse prancing along in its 
fine trappings, the Ass carrying with difficulty 
the heavy weight in its panniers. “I wish I 
were you,” sighed the Ass; “nothing to do and 
well fed, and all that fine harness upon you.” 
Next day, however, there was a great battle, and 
the Horse was wounded to death in the final 
charge of the day. His friend, the Ass, hap¬ 
pened to pass by shortly afterwards and found 
him on the point of death. “I was wrong,” said 
the Ass, 


“Better humble security than gilded danger 




198 


FABLES OF AESOP 


The Oak and the Reeds 




#@@@ VIOLENT Storm uprooted an Oak that 
©©© © 

@ \ ® § rew on the bank of a river. The Oak 
drifted across the stream and lodged 

*&©©© 

@@@@ among some Reeds. Wondering to find 
these still standing, he could not help asking 
them how it was they had escaped the fury of 
a Storm which had torn him up by the roots. 
“We bent our heads to the blast,” said they 
“and it passed over us. You stood stiff and 
stubborn until you could stand no longer.” 


“Obscurity often brings safety ” 





“We bent out heads to the blast” said they* 


199 



200 


FABLES OF AESOP 


The Fox and the Stork 


t<m>* 


HIHUT one time the Fox and the Stork were 
£0* A on visiting terms and seemed very good 
fffffff friends. So the Fox invited the Stork 
HHm to dinner, and for a joke put nothing 
******* before her but some soup in a very 
shallow, dish. This the Fox could easily lap up, 
but the Stork could only wet the end of her 
long bill in it, and left the meal as hungry as 
when she began. “I am sorry,” said the Fox, 
“the soup is not to your liking.” 

“Pray do not apologize,” said the Stork. “I 
hope you will return this visit and come and 
dine with me soon.” So a day was appointed 







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In a very long*necked jar . 


201 

























202 


FABLES OF AESOP 


when the Fox should visit the Stork; but when 
they were seated at table all that was for their 
dinner was contained in a very long-necked jar 
with a narrow mouth, in which the Fox could 
not insert his snout, so all he could manage to 
do was to lick the outside of the jar. 

“I will not apologize for the dinner,” said the 
Stork; 


'One bad turn deserves another. 





FABLES OF AESOP 


203 


The Two Rats 


A CUNNING old Rat discovered in his 
rounds a most tempting piece of cheese, 
which was placed in a trap. But being 
well aware that if he touched it he would be 
caught in a trap, he treacherously accosted one 
of his young companions, and, under the mask 
of friendship, informed him of the prize, which 
he could not enjoy, as he had just swallowed a 
hearty meal. The inexperiencd Rat thanked him 
with gratitude for the intelligence, and heedlessly 
sprang upon the tempting bait; on which the 
gin closed and instantly destroyed him. His 
insidious adviser, being now quite secure, quietly 
ate up the cheese. 


"Interested advisers usually are seeking some benefit.'' 





A formal, solemn Old had for many years made his home. 


204 









FABLES OF AESOP 


205 


The Owl and the Nightingale 


FORMAL, solemn Owl had for many 
years made his home among the 
ruins of an old monastery, and had 
pored so often over some moldy 
manuscripts, the stupid relics of a 
monkish library, that he grew infected with the 
pride and pedantry of the place, and, mistaking 
gravity for wisdom, would sit whole days with 
his eyes half-shut, fancying himself profoundly 
learned. It happened, as he sat one evening, 
half-buried in meditation and half in sleep, that 










206 


FABLES OF AESOP 


a Nightingale, unluckily perching near him, 
began her melodious lays. He started from his 
reverie, and with a horrid screech interrupted 
her song. “Begone!” cried he, “thou impertinent 
minstrel, nor distract with noisy dissonance my 
sublime contemplations; and know, vain songster, 
that harmony consists in truth alone, which is 
gained by laborious study, and not in languishing 
notes, fit only to soothe the ear of a lovesick 
maid.” “Conceited pedant,” returned the Night¬ 
ingale, “whose wisdom lies only in the feathers 
that muffle up thy unmeaning face; music is a 
natural and rational entertainment; and, though 
not adapted to the ears of an Owl, has ever been 
relished and admired by all who are possessed 
of true taste and elegance.” 


" Self-importance means little to the truly wise ■” 





It 


207 





208 


FABLES OF AESOP 


The Discontented Ass 

N Ass, in a hard winter, wished for a little 



warm weather and a mouthful of fresh 
grass, in exchange for a dry truss of straw and 
a cold lodging. In good time the warm weather 
and the fresh grass came on, but so much toil 
and business along with it that the Ass grows 
quickly as sick of the Spring as he was of the 
Winter. He next longs for Summer, and when 
that comes finds his toils and drudgery greater 
than in the Spring; and then he fancies he shall 
never be well till Autumn comes; but there 
again, what with carrying apples, grapes, fuel, 
winter provisions, and such like, he finds himself 
in greater trouble than ever. In fine, when 
he has trod the circle of the year in a course of 
restless labor, his last prayer is for Winter 
again, and that he may but take up his rest where 
he began his complaint. 


“To be unhappy, complain about your lot/* 




FABLES OF AESOP 


209 


The Wolf and the Mastiff 




WOLF, who was almost skin and bone 
— so well did the Dogs of the neigh- 
korhood keep guard—met, one moon- 
shiny night, a sleek Mastiff, who was, 
moreover, as strong as he was fat. The 
Wolf would gladly have supped off him, but saw 
there would first be a great fight, for which, in 
his condition, he was not prepared; so, bidding 
the Dog good-night very humbly, he praised his 




210 


FABLES OF AESOP 



good looks. “It would be easy for you,” replied 
the Mastiff, “to get as fat as I am if you liked. 
Quit this forest, where you and your fellows live 
so wretchedly, and often die with hunger. 
Follow me, and you shall fare much better.” 
“What shall I have to do?” asked the Wolf. 
“Almost nothing,” answered the Dog; “only 
chase away the beggars and fawn upon the folks 
of the house. You will, in return, be paid with 
all sorts of nice things—bones of fowls and 
pigeons—to say nothing of many a friendly pat 
on the head.” The Wolf, at the picture of so 
much comfort, nearly shed tears of joy. They 
trotted off together, but, as they went along, the 
Wolf noticed a bare spot on the Dog’s neck. 
“What is that mark?” said he. “Oh, nothing,” 
said the Dog. “How nothing?” urged the Wolf. 





SOf bidding the Dog goodnight very humbly, he praised his good looks. 


211 











212 


FABLES OF AESOP 


“Oh, the merest trifle,” answered the Dog; “the 
collar which I wear when I am tied up is the 
cause of it.” “Tied up!” exclaimed the Wolf, 
with a sudden stop; “tied up? Can you not 
always then run where you please?” “Well, not 
quite always,” said the Mastiff; “but what can 
that matter?” “It matters so much to me,” re¬ 
joined the Wolf, “that your lot shall not be mine 
at any price.” And, leaping away, he ran once 
more to his native forest. 


"Better starve free , than be a fat slave / 




FABLES OF AESOP 


213 


The Cobbler Turned Doctor 



COBBLER, unable to make a living by 
his trade, rendered desperate by poverty, 
began to practice medicine in a town 


in which he was not known. He sold a drug, 
pretending that it was an antidote to all poisons, 
and obtained a great name for himself by long- 
winded puffs and advertisements. He happened 
to fall sick himself of a serious illness, on which 
the governor of the town determined to test his 
skill. For this purpose he called for a cup, and 
while filling it with water pretended to mix 
poison with the Cobbler’s antidote, and com¬ 
manded him to drink it, on the promise of a 
reward. The Cobbler, under the fear of death, 





214 


FABLES OF AESOP 


confessed that he had no knowledge of medicine, 
and was only made famous by the stupid clamors 
of the crowd. The governor called a public 
assembly, and thus addressed the citizens: “Of 
what folly have you been guilty? You have not 
hesitated to trust your heads to a man whom 
no one could employ to make even the shoes 
for their feet.” 


"A cobbler should stick to his last/* 




FABLES OF AESOP 


215 


The Owl and the Grasshopper 


N Owl, who was sitting in a hollow 
tree, dozing away a long summer’s 
afternoon, was very much disturbed 
by a rogue of a Grasshopper singing 
in the grass beneath. So far, indeed, 
from keeping quiet or moving away at the request 
of the Owl, the Grasshopper sang all the more, 
and called her an old blinker that only showed 
out at night when all honest people were going 
to bed. The Owl waited in silence for a short 
time, and then artfully addressed the Grass¬ 
hopper as follows: “Well, my dear, if one cannot 
be allowed to sleep, it is something to be kept 
awake by such a pleasant little pipe as yours, 












216 


FABLES OF AESOP 


which makes most agreeable music, I must say. 
And now I think of it, my mistress Pallas gave 
me the other day a bottle of delicious nectar. 
If you will take the trouble to come up, you 
shall have a drop and it will clear your voice 
nicely.” The silly Grasshopper, beside himself 
with the flattery, came hopping up to the Owl. 
When he came within reach, the Owl caught 
him, killed him, and finished her nap in comfort. 


“Flattery is not a proof of true admiration." 










Came hopping up to the Owl . 


217 



















The Swallow and the Crow had a contention. 




218 




FABLES OF AESOP 


219 


The Swallow and the Crow 



T HE Swallow and the Crow had a contention 
about their plumage. The Crow put an end 
to the dispute by saying: “Your feathers are all 
very well in the spring, but mine protect me 
against the winter.” 


“Fine-weather friends are not worth much . 









220 


FABLES OF AESOP 


The Town Mouse and the Country 
Mouse 



COUNTRY MOUSE, a plain, sen¬ 
sible sort of fellow, was once visited 
by a former companion of his, who 
lived in a neighboring city. The 
Country Mouse put before his friend 
some fine peas, some choice bacon, and a bit 
of rare old Stilton, and called upon him to eat 
heartily of the good cheer. The City Mouse 
nibbled a little here and there in a dainty man¬ 
ner, wondering at the pleasure his host took in 






























221 




222 


FABLES OF AESOP 


such coarse and ordinary fare. In the after- 
dinner chat the Town Mouse said to the Country 
Mouse: “Really, my good friend, that you can 
keep in such good spirits in this dismal, dead- 
and-alive place surprised me altogether. You 
see here no life, no gayety, no society, in short, 
but go on and on in a dull, humdrum sort of 
way, from one year’s end to another. Come 
now with me, this very night, and see with your 
own eyes what a life I lead.” The Country 
Mouse consented, and as soon as it fell dark, 
off they started for the city, where they arrived 
just as a splendid supper, given by the master 
of the house where our town friend lived, was 
over and the guests had departed. The City 
Mouse soon got together a heap of dainties on 
a corner of the handsome Turkey carpet. The 
Country Mouse, who had never even heard the 
names of half the meats set before him, was 
hesitating where he should begin, when the room 




FABLES OF AESOP 


223 


door creaked, opened, and in entered a servant 
with a light. The companions ran off, but every¬ 
thing soon being quiet again, they returned to 
their repast, when once more the door opened, 
and the son of the master of the house came 
in with a great bounce, followed by his little 
Terrier, who ran sniffing to the very spot where 
our friends had just been. The City Mouse was 
by that time safe in his hole—which, by the 
way, he had not been thoughtful enough to show 
to his friend, who could find no better shelter 
than that afforded by a sofa, behind which he 
waited in fear and trembling till quietness was 
again restored. The City Mouse then called 
upon him to resume his supper, but the Country 
Mouse said, “No, no; I shall be off as fast as I 
can. I would rather have a crust with peace 
and quietness than all your fine things in the 
midst of such alarm and frights as these.” 


"Better beans and bacon in peace, than cakes and ale in fear.” 




224 


FABLES OF AESOP 


The Lion, the Fox, and the Wolf 



Forest was once long and 


H|g]@seriously ill, and his Majesty’s temper not 


nim, 


jgjjgjgjbeing at all improved by the trial, the Fox, 


with his usual discretion, kept away from Court 
as much as he could. He slunk about, however, 
as near as he could without being seen, and one 
day overheard the Wolf talking to the Lion 
about him. The Wolf and the Fox were never 
good friends, and the Wolf was now calling the 
Lion’s attention to the fact that the Fox had 
not shown his face for a long time at Court, 
and added that he had strong reasons for sus¬ 
pecting that he was busily engaged in hatching 
some treason or other. The Lion thereupon com- 





And His Majesty’s temper . 


225 















226 


FABLES OF AESOP 


manded that the Fox should be brought at once 
to his presence, and the Jackal was accordingly 
sent to look for him. The Fox, being asked 
what he had to say for himself, replied that his 
absence, so far from arising from any want of 
respect for his sovereign, was the result for his 
extreme concern for his welfare. He had gone 
far and wide, he said, and consulted the most 
skillful physicians as to what was the best thing 
to be done to cure the King’s most grievous 
malady. “They say,” stated he (and here he 
gave a malicious leer at the Wolf), “that the 
only thing to save your Majesty’s life is to wrap 
yourself in the warm skin torn from a newly- 
killed Wolf.” The Lion, eager to try the experi¬ 
ment, at once dragged the Wolf toward him and 
killed him on the spot. 


“It is easier to get into the enemy's toils than out again/' 




FABLES OF AESOP 


227 


The King’s Son and the Painted Lion 




KING who had one only son, fond of 

A martial exercises, had a dream in which 
he was warned that his son would be 
killed by a Lion. Afraid lest the dream 
should prove true, he built for his son a pleasant 
palace, and adorned its walls for his amusement 
with all kinds of animals of the size of life, 
among which was a picture of a Lion. When 
the young Prince saw this, his grief at being 
thus confined burst out afresh, and, standing 




228 


FABLES OF AESOP 


near the Lion, he thus spoke: “Oh, you most 
detestable of animals! Through a lying dream 
of my father’s, which he saw in his sleep, I am 
shut up on your account in this palace as if I 
had been a girl. What shall I now do to you?” 
With these words he stretched out his hands 
toward a thorn tree, meaning to cut a stick from 
its branches that he might beat the Lion, when 
one of its sharp prickles pierced his finger, and 
caused great pain and inflammation, so that the 
young Prince fell down in a fainting fit. A 
violent fever suddenly set in, from which he died 
not many days after. 


“We had better bear our troubles bravely than try 
to escape them ” 











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229 




































































230 


FABLES OF AESOP 


The Mice in Council 



CERTAIN Cat that lived in a large 

A @ 

/\ @ country house was so vigilant and 
active that the Mice, finding their 
numbers grievously thinned, held a 

©@©@©© 

council, with closed doors, to con¬ 
sider what they had best do. Many plans had 
been started and dismissed, when a young Mouse, 
rising and catching the eye of the President, 
said that he had a proposal to make, that he 
was sure must meet with the approval of all. 
“If,” he said, “the Cat wore around her neck 
a little bell, every step she took would make it 
tinkle; then, ever forewarned of her approach, 
we should have time to reach our holes. By 






FABLES OF AESOP 


231 


this simple means we should live in saiety and 
defy her power.” The speaker resumed his seat 
with a complacent air, and a murmur of applause 
arose from the audience. An old gray Mouse, 
with a merry twinkle in his eye, now got up, 
and said that the plan of the last speaker was 
an admirable one; but he feared it had one 
drawback. He had not told them who should 
put the bell around the Cat’s neck. 


“It is easy to propose impossible remedies 










232 


FABLES OF AESOP 


The Hare Afraid of His Ears 



r T''HE Lion, being once badly hurt by the 
horns of a goat, went into a great rage, and 
swore that every animal with horns should be 
banished from his kingdom. Goats, Bulls, Rams, 
Deer, and every living thing with horns had 
quickly to be off on pain of death. A Hare, 
seeing from his shadow how long his ears were, 
was in great fear lest they should be taken for 
horns. “Good-by, my friend,” said he to the 
Cricket, who for many a long summer evening had 
chirped to him where he lay dozing; “I must be 







FABLES OF AESOP 


233 



Much like goats’ horns. 


off from here. My ears are too much like horns 
to allow me to be comfortable.” “Horns!” ex¬ 
claimed the Cricket. “Do you take me for a 
fool? You no more have horns than I have.” 
“Say what you please,” replied the Hare, “were 
my ears only half as long as they are, they would 
be quite long enough for any one to lay hold of 
who wished to make them out to be horns.” 


"Your enemies will use any excuse to attack you 










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FABLES OF AESOP 


235 


The Mastiff and the Goose 



GOOSE once upon a time fed its young 



by a pondside, and a Goose in such cir¬ 
cumstances is always extremely proud and exces¬ 
sively punctilious. If any other animal, though 
without the least design of offense, happened to 
pass that way, the Goose immediately flew at 
it. The pond, she said was hers, and she would 
maintain her right to it, and support her honor, 
while she had a bill to hiss or a wing to flutter. In 
this manner she drove away ducks, pigs, chickens, 
nay, even the insidious cat was seen to scamper. 
A longing Mastiff, however, happened to pass by, 
and thought it no harm if he should lap a little 




236 


FABLES OF AESOP 


of the water, as he was thirsty. The guardian 
Goose flew at him like a Fury, pecked at him 
with her beak, and slapped him with her fea¬ 
thers. The Mastiff grew angry, and had twenty 
times a mind to give her a sly snap; but sup¬ 
pressed his indignation, because his master was 
nigh. “A plague take thee,” cried he, “for a 
fool! 

So saying, he went forward to the pond, 
quenched his thirst in spite of the Goose, and 
followed his master. 


“Sure, those who have neither strength nor weapons to 
fight at least should be civil,”. 




FABLES OF AESOP 


237 


The Sorceress 


ggggggggIGHT and silence had now given repose 
| to the whole world, when an ill-natured 
jflggggggj Sorceress, in order to exercise her fear- 
iifiouauBf ful arts, entered into a gloomy wood, 
which trembled at her approach. The scene of 
her horrid incantations was within the circum¬ 
ference of a large circle, in the center of which 
an altar was raised, where the hallowed vervain 
blazed in triangular flames, while the mischievous 
Hag pronounced the dreadful words which 
bound all the powers of evil in obedience to 




238 


FABLES OF AESOP 


her charms. She blows a raging pestilence from 
her lips into the neighboring folds, and the inno¬ 
cent cattle die to afford a fit sacrifice to the 
infernal deities. The moon, by powerful spells 
drawn down from her orb, enters the wood; 
legions of spirits from Pluto’s realms appear 
before the altar and demand her pleasure. “Tell 
me,” said she, “where shall I find what I have 
lost, my favorite little dog?” “How!” cried 
they all, enraged; “impertinent Beldame! Must 
the order of nature be inverted and the repose 
of every creature disturbed for the sake of thy 
little dog?” 


"Use your given powers with judgment: 





Spirits from Pluto’s 


realms appear. 


239 











































240 


FABLES OF AESOP 


The Lion, the Ass, and the Fox 


JlllllHE Lion, the Ass, and the Fox went 

nr* 

iyj hunting together, and it was agreed that 

****** 

llllll whatever was taken should be shared 
****** 

between them. They caught a large, fat Stag, 
which the Lion ordered the Ass to divide. The 
Ass took a deal of pains to divide the Stag into 
three pieces, which should be as nearly equal 
as possible. The Lion, enraged with him for 
what he considered a want of proper respect 
to his quality, flew upon him and tore him to 
pieces. He then called on the Fox to divide. The 
Fox, nibbling off a small portion for himself, left 
the rest for the Lion’s share. The Lion, highly 





They caught a large , fat Stag. 


241 







242 


FABLES OF AESOP 


pleased by this mark of respect, asked the Fox 
where he had learned such politeness and good¬ 
breeding. “To tell the truth, Sire,” replied the 
Fox, “I was taught it by the Ass who lies dead 
there.” 


''You may share the labors of the great , but you will 
not share the spoil/* 






FABLES OF AESOP 


243 


The Fly and the Draught-Mule 


* "t FLY sat on the axle-tree of a chariot, and 
1 addressing the Draught-mule said: “How 
- --‘■ I slow you are! Why do you not go faster? 

See if I do not prick your neck with my 
sting.” The Draught-mule replied: “I do not 
heed your threats; I only care for him who sits 
above you, and who quickens my pace with his 
whip, or holds me back with the reins. Away, 
therefore, with your insolence, for I know well 
when to go fast, and when to go slow.” 


'Everyone should know his Master . 1 







244 


FABLES OF AESOP 


The Satyr and the Traveler 


SATYR, ranging in the forest in 
winter, came across a Traveler half 
starved with the cold. He took 
pity on him and invited him to 
go to his cave. On their way the Man kept 
blowing upon his fingers. “Why do you do 
that?” said the Satyr, who had seen little of the 
world. “To warm my hands; they are nearly 
frozen,” replied the Man. Arrived at the cave, 
the Satyr poured out a mess of smoking pottage 
and laid it before the Traveler, who at once 
commenced blowing at it with all his might. 
“What, blowing again!” cried the Satyr. “Is 


















Who at once commenced blowing at it. 


245 























































246 


FABLES OF AESOP 


it not hot enough?” “Yes, faith,” answered the 
Man, “it is hot enough in all conscience, and 
that is just the reason why I blow it.” “Be off 
with you!” said the Satyr, in alarm; “I will 
have no part with a man who can blow hot and 
cold from the same mouth.” 

“The man who talks for both sides is not to be trusted.” 








FABLES OF AESOP 


247 


The Eagle and the Crow 


^ CROW watched an Eagle swoop with a 
majestic air from a neighboring cliff upon 
a flock of Sheep and carry away a Lamb in his 
talons. The whole thing looked so graceful and 
so easy withal that the Crow at once proceeded 
to imitate it, and, pouncing upon the back of 
the largest and fattest Ram he could see, he tried 
to make off with it. He found not only that 
he could not move the Ram, but that his claws 
got so entangled in the animal’s fleece that he 
could not get away himself. He therefore became 
an easy prey to the Shepherd, who, coming up 
at the time, caught him, cut his wings, and gave 
him to his children for a plaything. 


“Do not let your vanity make you overestimate your powers.” 




248 


FABLES OF AESOP 


The Shepherd Boy and the Wolf 



MISCHIEVOUS Lad, who was 
sent to mind some Sheep, used, in 
jest, to cry “Wolf! Wolf!” When 


999099 the people at work in the neigh¬ 
boring fields came running to the spot, he would 
laugh at them for their pains. One day the Wolf 
came in reality, and the Boy, this time, called 
“Wolf! Wolf!” in earnest; but the Men, having 
been so often deceived, disregarded his cries, 
and the Sheep were left at the mercy of the 
Wolf. 


“A liar will not be believed, even when he speaks the truth.” 











And the Sheep were left at the mercy of the Wolf . 


249 


















250 


FABLES OF AESOP 


The Wolf and the Crane 


jjj: WOLF had been gorging on an animal 
A: he had killed, when suddenly a small 
bone in the meat stuck in his throat and 
he could not swallow it. He soon felt a 
terrible pain in his throat, and ran up and down 
groaning and groaning and seeking for some¬ 
thing to relieve the pain. He tried to induce 
every one he met to remove the bone. “I would 
give anything,” said he, “if you would take it 
out.” At last the Crane agreed to try, and told 
the Wolf to lie on his side and open his jaws as 
wide as he could. Then the Crane put its long 
neck down the Wolf’s throat, and with its beak 

















With its beak loosened the bone. 


251 



































252 


FABLES OF AESOP 



The Wolf grinned. 


loosened the bone, till at last it got it out. 

“Will you kindly give me the reward you 
promised?” said the Crane. 

The Wolf grinned and showed his teeth, and 
said: “Be content. You have put your head 
inside a Wolf’s mouth and taken it out again 
in safety; that ought to be reward enough for 
you.” 


“Gratitude and greed go not together” 




FABLES OF AESOP 


253 


The Gnat and the Lion 



IP*i| GNAT once went up to a Lion and said, 
IBIkhIh ^ am not ^ ie l east afraid of you 1 ; I 
don’t even allow that you are a match 
for me in strength. What does your 
strength amount to after all? That you scratch 
with your claws and bite with your teeth—just 









254 


FABLES OF AESOP 


like a woman in a temper—and nothing more. 
But I’m stronger than you. If you don’t believe 
it, let us fight and see.” So saying, the Gnat 
sounded his horn, and darted in and bit the 
Lion on the nose. When the Lion felt the sting, 
in his haste to crush him he scratched his nose 
badly, and made it bleed, but failed altogether 
to hurt the Gnat, which buzzed off in triumph, 
elated by its victory. Presently, however, it got 
entangled in a spider’s web, and was caught and 
eaten by the spider, thus falling a prey to an 
insignificant insect after having triumphed over 
the King of the Beasts. 


"The least of our enemies is of the most to be feared.” 


FINIS 




4 



Darted in and bit the Lion 


on the nose . 


«••• 


• ••• 



THE 

WONDERFUL TOE 

AND 

Golden Dae .Stories 

BY 

Carolyn Sherwin Bailey 

Author or "-Stories From An Indian Cave" 
"Lincoln Time Stories" “/Surprise Stories” Btc. 



ILLUSTRATED BY 

Jos eph Eugbne? Da ^h 

1 "A JUST RIGHT BOOK’’-| 

ALBERT WHITMAN & GO. 

PUBLISHERS 
CHICAGO U. S.A. 











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